C.B.P. News Release

Florida CBP Seizes Counterfeit Watches Valued at $140,000
(Tuesday, June 23, 2009)

Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. - On June 15, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at Ft. Lauderdale/Hollywood international airport seized 12 counterfeit watches with an estimated Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of $140,000.

While conducting a routine inspection of a passenger’s luggage a CBP officer discovered the various watches sewn into several pieces of clothing and initially suspected that they were counterfeit. The watches included nine "Rolex" watches, one "Piaget" watch, one "Tag Heuer" Monaco watch and one "Techno Marine" watch.

They were all detained and sent to the Trade Enforcement Team for review. The TET specialists examined them and concurred. The watches were then referred to the Commodity Specialist Team who evaluated them and then made the final determination that they were in fact counterfeit.

“Our CBP officers are working diligently at our airports and seaports to protect businesses and consumers every day by combating the trade in counterfeit and pirated goods through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights enforcement program,â€