Various counterfeit watches and steroids seized by Chicago CBP

CHICAGO -U.S. Customs and Border Protection's Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team at Chicago O'Hare International Airport seized a shipment containing various counterfeit watches and steroids on Halloween. Had these items been genuine, the shipment would have had a combined manufacturer's suggested retail price of over $6.2 million.

The shipment from China was headed for California when officers pulled the parcel for inspection. The examination revealed watches bearing the suspected trademarks of Burberry, Tag Heuer, Fossil, Seiko, Hugo Boss Swarovski, Movado, Audemars Piguet, Tissot, Cartier and Rolex, and ear buds branded as AirPods bearing the Apple trademark. These items were deemed to be inauthentic by CBP's Centers of Excellence and Expertise, the agency's trade experts, and were seized for bearing counterfeit versions of registered and recorded trademarks.

Officers also found several types of powders and liquids in the shipment, which tested positive for various types of different steroid-related Schedule III substance.

"Our officers across the nation routinely see these types of shipments and they are illegal," said Chicago Field Office's Acting Director of Field Operations Michael Pfeiffer. "In this instance officers not only stopped counterfeit watches that threaten America's economic vitality and often funds criminal activities, but the officers also identified illicit shipments containing steroids, which are extremely dangerous. This seizure illustrates the work our officers do every day to protect our country, its citizens, and the economy."

CBP has the authority to detain, seize, forfeit, and ultimately destroy imported merchandise if it bears an infringing trademark or copyright that has been registered with the United States Patent and Trademark Office or the United States Copyright Office and has subsequently been recorded with CBP through the e-Recordation program. https://iprr.cbp.gov/s/. Other violations can include misclassification of merchandise, false country-of-origin markings, health and safety issues, and valuation issues.

Counterfeit goods can often be spotted by their inferior quality. Peeling labels, low-quality ink or printing errors on the packaging, and the quality of the packaging, all can be signs that the product you purchased may not be legitimate. Counterfeit apparel and handbags may feature poor or uneven stitching, be improperly sized, or not exist as a product the designer brand produces at all. The performance of counterfeit electronics is often marked by short battery life and regular overheating.

Furthermore, CBP protects the intellectual property rights of American businesses through an aggressive Intellectual Property Right enforcement program, safeguarding them from unfair competition and use for malicious intent while upholding American innovation and ingenuity. The Truth Behind Counterfeits public awareness campaign provides information about what CBP is doing every day to protect Americans from counterfeit goods.

Consumers can also take simple steps to protect themselves and their families from counterfeit goods:

• Purchase goods directly from the trademark holder or from authorized retailers.
• When shopping online, read seller reviews and check for a working U.S. phone number and an address that can be used to contact the seller.
• Review CBP's E-Commerce Counterfeit Awareness Guide for Consumers.
• Remember that if the price of a product seems too good to be true, it probably is.

To report suspected counterfeits, visit CBP's online e-Allegations portal or call 1-800-BE-ALERT.

Follow CBP on X @CBPChicago and @DFOChicago.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is America's frontline: the nation's largest law enforcement organization and the world's first unified border management agency. The 70,000+ men and women of CBP protect America on the ground, in the air and on the seas. We enforce safe, lawful travel and trade and ensure our country's economic prosperity. We enhance the nation's security through innovation, intelligence, collaboration and trust.

• Topics
• Cargo Security
• Drug Seizure
• Enforcement
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Office of Field Operations
• Port Security
• Search and Seizure
• Trade