Bust Worth Millions at the Border
On August 8, 2025, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Indianapolis intercepted a shipment of counterfeit Cartier watches—30 fake timepieces, in total, concealed within a commercial bus designated for high-risk drug enforcement (HIDTA). Had these knock-offs been genuine, their Manufacturer’s Suggested Retail Price (MSRP) would have totaled a staggering $4.2 million.
From Hong Kong to the U.S.
The watches originated from Hong Kong and were headed to New York before being stopped in Indianapolis. CBP, with expertise from its Centers of Excellence and Expertise, identified the watches as illegally bearing Cartier’s trademark, a violation of U.S. intellectual property law.
Why This Matters
CBP Field Operations Director LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke highlighted the broader implications:
“Purchasing counterfeit goods enables criminal enterprises… these items fund illicit activities,”
warning purchasers to be wary of online deals from unfamiliar sources that often sell fake goods masked as luxury.
In recent years, the most frequently seized fake items include jewelry, watches, and handbags—primarily from China and Hong Kong, which are responsible for nearly 90% of U.S. intellectual property seizures.
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