Designer watches worth over $8 million were seized by customs officers in Chicago
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers assigned to an express consignment facility near Chicago International Airport examined a shipment arriving from China containing counterfeit designer brand watches on Oct. 23, 2025. There was counterfeit merchandise that included six Richard Mille watches, eight Audemars Piguet watches, four Diesel watches, eight G-Shock watches, and two Rolex bracelets.
The shipment was heading to a residence in Chicago when officers intercepted the parcel for inspection. Officers discovered 26 watches and two bracelets that were seized for bearing counterfeit marks: The watches and bracelets bore the names and logos of the mentioned designer brands.
The items were deemed to be inauthentic by CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise, the agency’s trade experts, and if genuine, would have had a combined manufacturer’s suggested retail price of over $8.5 million.
U.S. Customs Director, Field Operations-Chicago Field Office LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke said:
“While online shopping has increased, CBP stays vigilant by stopping illegal shipments like these from damaging our economy. Officers at the Port of Chicago are always on the lookout to uphold our mission of protecting Americans from dangerous shipments and materials.”
Commonly, these goods are sold in underground outlets and on third party e-commerce websites. Counterfeit commodities fund smugglers and members of organized crime. Consumers often believe they are buying a genuine product but soon realize the item is substandard.
Trade in counterfeit and pirated goods threatens America’s economy, the competitiveness of our businesses, the livelihoods of U.S. workers, and, in some cases, national security and the health and safety of consumers.
To combat the entry of counterfeit and pirated goods into America, CBP targets and seizes imports of counterfeit and pirated goods and enforces exclusion orders on patent infringing and other IPR violative goods.
CBP Trade protects the intellectual property rights of American businesses through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights enforcement program, safeguarding them from unfair competition and use for malicious intent while upholding American innovation and ingenuity. Suspected violations can be reported to CBP.
The dangers of buying counterfeit products aren’t always obvious to consumers. Particularly, when shopping online, beware of counterfeit goods. Fake goods can lead to real dangers.
