U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Louisville announced they intercepted a shipment containing more than 7,000 pairs of counterfeit earrings.
The shipment was arriving from Hong Kong and was heading to a residence in Miami. Officers inspected the shipment, which was manifested as a “metal necklace” and weighed 56 pounds, discovering 7,319 pairs of earrings bearing the iconic Van Cleef and Arpels Alhambra design, which is a federally protected trademark.
The earrings bore unauthorized versions of Van Cleef and Arpels trademark by CBP’s Centers of Excellence and Expertise, said the agency’s trade experts. Had these goods been genuine, the shipment would have had a Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of $30.37 million.
“Legitimate trade powers the U.S. economy,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director of Field Operations, Chicago Field Office, “but counterfeit and pirated goods dampen our economic successes, fund criminal networks, and threaten consumer trust and safety. As consumers increasingly purchase from online or third-party vendors, our officers are at the frontline to guard against defrauders expecting to make money selling fake merchandise.”…