CBP seizes 460 counterfeit Audemars Piguet watches worth $66 million in Louisville
Counterfeit watches worth $66 million intercepted by Louisville CBP
CBP officers at the Port of Louisville seized a shipment on October 23 containing 460 watches bearing Audemars Piguet trademarks, which CBP's Centers of Excellence and Expertise deemed inauthentic; the shipment from Hong Kong was headed for a residence in Texas. CBP states the watches would have carried a combined Manufacturer's Suggested Retail Price of over $66 million had they been genuine, and that the goods were seized for bearing counterfeit versions of registered and recorded trademarks. CBP says nearly 90% of its IPR seizures in Fiscal Year 2025 originated from China and Hong Kong.
LOUISVILLE, Ky. — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers at the Port of Louisville stopped a shipment on Oct. 23 containing 460 counterfeit watches. Had these watches been genuine, the shipment would have had a combined Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price of over $66 million.
The shipment from Hong Kong was headed for a residence in Texas when officers pulled the parcel for inspection. The examination revealed 460 watches bearing Audemars Piguet trademarks. The 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.
“In May, these CBP officers seized a shipment of counterfeit jewelry worth $14 million; in June, it was $54 million in counterfeit watches; in July, more counterfeit watches worth $28 million; and in August, it was 300 counterfeit watches worth $43 million,” said Louisville’s Port Director Philip Onken. “As you can see, our officers are working hard to identify threats and shut down illicit suppliers, as trade grows at unprecedented rates.”
Illegitimate sales are some of the most profitable transnational crimes. Counterfeiters sell inauthentic versions of popular products in response to trends, often through online sources, which adversely impacts legitimate U.S. businesses. These items, including fake medications, perfumes, cosmetics, children’s toys and costumes; fashion, jewelry, luxury products, and unsafe electronics and automotive parts, can pose health and safety risks to American consumers as they are often made with substandard or harmful materials.
To guarantee you are getting what you paid for consumers should shop from reputable sources. Each time a counterfeit good is purchased, a legitimate company loses revenue. This translates to lost profits and the loss of U.S. jobs over time. CBP targets and seizes imports of IPR violative goods. Counterfeits are a global problem with nearly 90% of CBP’s IPR seizures originating from China and Hong Kong in Fiscal Year 2025.
To learn more about what CBP is doing every day to protect Americans from counterfeit goods, visit the Truth Behind Counterfeits public awareness campaign webpage.
CBP protects the intellectual property rights of American businesses through an aggressive Intellectual Property Rights enforcement program, safeguarding them from unfair competition and use for malicious intent while upholding American innovation and ingenuity. Suspected violations can be reported to CBP by visiting the Trade Violations Reporting site.
Under the leadership of President Donald J. Trump and Department of Homeland Security Secretary Markwayne Mullin, U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Louisville stop illegal activity and enforce lawful commerce into and out of the United States.
Follow CBP on X @CBPChicago and @DFOChicago.
Source: CBP · Trade · cbp.gov