CBP Louisville Seizes $9.2M Counterfeit Jewelry, 1,588 Pieces

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Over $9 million in counterfeit jewelry stopped by Louisville CBP

Release Date Thu, 04/09/2026 LOUISVILLE, Ky. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Louisville, Ky., seized 1,588 pieces of counterfeit jewelry in two express consignment shipments on April 3 that would have had a combined Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of over $9.2 million, had they been genuine.

The shipments, which arrived from Hong Kong and were destined to a residence in New York, contained 691 pairs of earrings, 522 bracelets, 197 necklaces and 178 rings. Every piece of jewelry bore the designed brand names of Cartier, Chanel, Christian Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Tiffany, Van Cleef and Arpels, and Yves St. Laurent trademarks. CBP officers suspected the jewelry to be counterfeit and detained them.

CBP officers submitted documentation and photographs to CBP’s trade experts at the Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Center of Excellence and Expertise for analysis. CBP’s trade experts worked with the trademark holders and verified that the products were counterfeit and subject to seizure pursuant to CBP’s statutory and regulatory authorities.

“Illicit trade in counterfeit goods can be found in all products lines and all industries, representing a significant threat to America’s innovation economy, the competitiveness of our businesses, the livelihoods of U.S. workers and, in some cases, national security and the health and safety of consumers,” said Louisville Port Director Phil Onken. “Customs and Border Protection urges you to protect your families and the U.S. economy by only purchasing authentic consumer products from reputable retailers.”

The rapid growth of e-commerce enables consumers to search for and easily purchase millions of products through online vendors, but this easy access gives counterfeit and pirated goods more ways to enter the U.S. economy.

U.S. consumers spend more than $100 billion every year on intellectual property rights (IPR) infringing goods, falling victim to approximately 20% of the counterfeits that are illegally sold worldwide. CBP launched a Truth Behind Counterfeits educational campaign to raise consumer awareness about the consequences and dangers that can be associated with the purchase of counterfeit and pirated goods.

Trade in counterfeit consumer goods is illegal. It threatens the health and safety of American consumers, steals from trademark holders, and takes tax revenues from the government, and it funds transnational criminal organizations. Counterfeit consumer goods may also be sourced or manufactured in facilities that employ forced labor.

Counterfeiters manufacture consumer goods using substandard materials and parts that could prematurely break or harm consumers. Protect your families by purchasing authentic consumer products from reputable retailers. Learn more about the consequences of counterfeits by visiting CBP’s Fake Goods Real Dangers webpage.

CBP protects businesses and consumers every day through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights enforcement program. During fiscal year 2025, CBP seized over 78,000,000 counterfeit goods with an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price worth over $7.3 billion, had the goods been genuine.

News media can search for additional enforcement details by viewing CBP’s IPR webpage or by viewing CBP’s IPR Dashboard and CBP’s Annual IPR Seizures Reports.

U.S. trademark and copyright owners can register with CBP to have their intellectual property protected at the border through the through the e-Recordation program (https://iprr.cbp.gov/s/).

CBP encourages anyone with information about counterfeit merchandise being illegally imported into the United States to submit an anonymous tip to CBP’s e-Allegation Program.

Follow CBP on X @CBPChicago and @DFOChicago. Visit CBP’s YouTube channel to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders.

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 67,000+ 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
• Enforcement
• Intellectual Property Rights
• Office of Field Operations
• Port Security
• Search and Seizure

• Trade
  Last Modified: Apr 09, 2026

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