Border agents seize dozens of counterfeit watches, sunglasses — worth nearly $20M if real

WASHINGTON — This fake merchandise will never see Canal Street.

US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) nabbed hundreds of knockoff watches, glasses and headwear in Ohio last week.

Gold and silver watches and hats bearing the distinctive-looking Coach and Gucci patterns were among the 111 items seized from parcels entering the US at the Port of Cincinnati.

The phony haul also included 44 Rolex watches; four Richard Mille watches; 10 Cartier timepieces; 20 hats from Prada, ALO, Gucci, and Coach; and 62 pairs of designer-branded sunglasses and glasses, CBP told The Post. 

New York’s fashion industry loses billions annually to consumer spending on counterfeits, while the global knockoff designer merchandise market is a multi-trillion dollar industry.

If the items had been genuine, the shipment would have had a total estimated value of more than $19.2 million.

The shipment from Colombia was headed for a residence in Puerto Rico when officers pulled it for inspection.

“The trade of fake goods, and the widespread violation of private intellectual property rights threaten the American economy, as well as our national security,” said Cincinnati Port Director Eric Zizelman.

Most counterfeit goods are sold online, with over 90% of all seizures taking place in international mail environments. The rise in encrypted messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram have increased sales, allowing fugazi items to be shipped straight to people’s doors.

Purchasing fake goods can lead to civil and criminal fines, while penalties for trafficking in them can include fines of up to $2 million, 10 years in prison, or both.

The sale of fakes also hurts on the local level. The underground counterfeit market drains an estimated $1 billion in tax revenue from New York state and city services.

The items confiscated in Cincinnati were turned over to Homeland Security Investigations for further investigation.

Cincinnati, which sits on the Ohio River, is the second-largest inland port in the United States, moving approximately 48 million tons of cargo annually. 

CBP is the primary agency charged with intercepting fake goods — including medications, perfumes, cosmetics, electronics and auto parts — at all border entry points.

During fiscal year 2025, CBP seized more than 78 million counterfeit goods with an estimated retail price of more than $7.3 billion had the items been genuine.