Single shipment with $6.6m in fake watches seized in Chicago

Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers stationed near Chicago O'Hare International Airport have intercepted a shipment which contained designer brand watches worth an estimated $6.6m.

The officers, from the Chicago Anti-Terrorism Contraband Enforcement Team (A-TCET), inspected the shipment from China on May 4 and seized it after it became apparent that it contained ounterfeit version of the names and logos of the following designer brands: Audermars Piguet, Breitling, Bulgari, Cartier, Omega, Paneria, Patek Phillipe, Richard Mille, Rolex, Tag Heuer, and Vacheron.

A total of 243 different watches were seized. The shipment had an ultimate destination to an address in Bensonville, Illinois.

"The distribution of counterfeit goods defrauds US consumers and has a significant adverse impact on businesses by robbing our country of jobs and tax revenues," said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, director of field operations for CBP's Chicago field office.