200 counterfeit Cartier watches worth $28 million seized in Chicago

Just weeks after stopping a shipment of more than 70 counterfeit designer watches that could have sold for up to $2.8 million, customs officers in Chicago intercepted a much larger shipment earlier this month - one that could have been worth ten times as much. 

Big picture view:

Two hundred counterfeit Cartier watches that could have each commanded, on average, six-digit prices were seized at O’Hare International Airport on September 18, U.S. Customs and Border Protection revealed Wednesday. The agency estimated that the watches, if sold at the manufacturer’s suggested retail price of the originals, would be worth $28 million.

The backstory:

The watches were discovered when the shipment, which originated in Hong Kong and was on its way to California, was pulled aside at the Illinois airport. That’s when inspectors discovered the watches with suspected Cartier trademarks. The CBP Centers for Excellence and Expertise determined the trademarks were fake and the watches were seized.

While these watches were all reported to be Cartier imposters, CBP reported earlier this month that officers intercepted a shipment of 73 watches in August that covered a wide variety of brands, including Rolex, Audemars Piguet, Patek Philippe, Gucci, and Tommy Hilfiger, as well as Cartier.

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What they're saying:

"Counterfeit and pirated products threaten our economic security by hurting legitimate businesses who invest significantly in resources to protect their brands," said Chicago Field Office’s Acting Director of Field Operations Michael Pfeiffer, adding that bogus items could also pose health and safety concerns.

Dig deeper:

CBP pointed out that selling counterfeit goods like these can be some of the most profitable international crimes, and can have serious negative implications for legitimate companies in the U.S. While often associated with luxury items, counterfeit trade extends well past expensive name brands and can include goods like medication, electronics, toys, and more. 

The agency went on to point out that the counterfeit goods trade not only harms the businesses that are being copied, the items are also frequently produced in exploitative environments and the proceeds can help fund organized crime. 

To avoid counterfeits, CBP recommends buying directly from the company or authorized dealers and, when buying online, checking for reviews and looking for a U.S. phone number and address for the seller. The agency has also posted a guide for counterfeit awareness and the reminder that if the price seems too good to be true, it probably is.

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