CBP Seizes Counterfeit Designer Watches, Jewelry Worth $125,000 at New York Ports

CBP officers at the Port of Rochester and Port of Buffalo intercepted counterfeit designer watches, jewelry, and handbags during inspections conducted throughout February and March, with the seized goods carrying a combined estimated retail value of approximately $125,000 had they been genuine.

The Upstate New York seizures, announced in a CBP press release dated March 13, 2026, are part of a pattern of recent enforcement actions at ports across the country. In Cincinnati, CBP officers pulled a parcel from Colombia that contained 52 watches bearing counterfeit versions of Richard Mille, Rolex, Hublot, Cartier, and Casio trademarks. Had those watches been authentic, their combined manufacturer's suggested retail price would have reached $6.37 million. The shipment was en route to a residence in Washington when officers intercepted it. CBP's Centers of Excellence and Expertise, the agency's dedicated trade authentication unit, reviewed the pieces and confirmed they were inauthentic.

The scale of that Cincinnati haul puts the stakes in sharp relief: a single parcel of 52 watches, indistinguishable to most buyers from the real thing, carrying trademarks from some of the most scrutinized names in horology.

At the Port of Pittsburgh, officers inspected a separate air cargo parcel that had arrived from China and was destined for a Pittsburgh address. Inside were handbags, scarves, bracelets, necklaces, and earrings bearing the names Chanel, Christian Dior, and Louis Vuitton. CBP detained the parcel and sent documentation and photographs to trade experts, who worked alongside trademark holders to confirm the goods were counterfeit. Had they been real, the agency said, they would have been worth over $307,000.

Jason Hamilton, the Port of Pittsburgh's director, framed the seizure in terms that go beyond trademark infringement. "Unfortunately, today's global marketplace has provided an attractive platform for bad actors in China to export their illegal and dangerous knockoff goods to unwitting Americans," Hamilton said. "Make no mistake, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers will resolutely protect the homeland, American consumers and businesses by intercepting these, poor quality, fake goods."

CBP's concern with counterfeit goods extends well past brand protection. The agency has stated that counterfeiters routinely use substandard materials and components that can break and injure consumers. Counterfeit trade also finances transnational criminal organizations, and the goods are often manufactured in facilities that rely on forced labor. Separate industry reporting has documented multi-shipment seizures that also netted counterfeit Audemars Piguet, Moncler, and Chrome Hearts items, suggesting the enforcement net is catching an increasingly wide range of luxury categories.

During fiscal year 2025, CBP reported seizing 78 million counterfeit goods in total across all ports of entry. The Rochester and Buffalo seizures are a local chapter in an enforcement effort that shows no sign of slowing.