US Customs agents pulled off a another blingy raid in Kentucky last month that seized hundreds of knock-off luxury watches — many headed for New York and a haul that would have been worth $43 million if real.
The 300 glitzy Audemars Piguet fakes, decked out in faux diamonds and gold, arrived from Hong Kong and were seized at the Port of Louisville on July 31.
US Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted a shipment containing counterfeit luxury watches in Kentucky last month. U.S. Customs and Border Protection
Authentic Audemars Piguet watches retail for $39,000 a pop — but bejeweled versions of the Swiss luxury products can cost up to $1.1 million.
The illicit watch shipment was part of several that Customs and Border Patrol officers in Louisville have seized this summer, racking up a total of 875 counterfeit Audemars Piguets. If the entire load were authentic, the value would be over $1.25 billion.
The bogus time pieces all arrived from Hong Kong and were destined for New York and other locations, authorities said.
Custom and Border Patrol is in charge of intercepting fake goods Bloomberg via Getty Images
“It is important for consumers to become aware that criminals try to scam shoppers into buying lowquality and potentially dangerous counterfeit items,” said Louisville Port Director Philip Onken in a statement.
“Our officers do an incredible job targeting shipments and identifying these violations, workingtirelessly every day to protect the consumer and our economy.”
Manhattan’s Canal Street is a popular destination for counterfeit goods and where everything from fake bags to watches to sunglasses can be purchased.
Last month’s seized shipment of watches, if genuine, would have been worth $43 million. U.S. Customs and Border Protection
But most counterfeit goods are sold online, with more than 90% of all seizures taking place in international mail environments, authorities said. The rise in encrypted messaging apps such as WhatsApp or Telegram have increased sales, allowing fake items to be shipped straight to people’s doors.
Purchasing fake goods can lead to civil and criminal fines, while penalties for trafficking in them can include fines of up to $2 million, 10 years in prison or both.
The sale of fakes also hurts on the local leve, officials notedl. The underground counterfeit market drains an estimated $1 billion in tax revenue from New York state and city services.
The Port of Louisville is a 300-acre inland port on the Ohio River where it’s a gateway to inner state transport via river, rail, and major highways.
CBP is the primary agency charged with intercepting fake goods — including medications, perfumes, cosmetics, electronics and auto parts — at all border entry points.
