On Oct. 16, U.S. and Paraguayan authorities seized $34 million in counterfeit goods, including replicas of leading watch brands like Patek Philippe, Tissot, TAG Heuer, Bulgari, and Hublot.

Authorities say the copies, which they described as “high quality,” were being smuggled out of Silvio Pettirossi International Airport in Asunción, Paraguay, and were “possibly destined for the United States.”

Also seized were approximately 12,500 counterfeit Samsung cellular phones.

The seizure was conducted by Paraguayan authorities, in cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations division.

“Partnerships with international customs agencies and border security agents are essential to combating intellectual property theft,” said Raul O. Aguilar, HSI Buenos Aires attaché, in a statement. “Fighting these organizations demands a response that is transnational and well-coordinated.”

JCK