U.S. Customs and Border Protection recently seized $83 million in fake Audemars Piguet watches from an incoming shipment, marking the largest counterfeit timepiece seizure in port history.
Some 7,800 watches mimicking the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Octagonal Bezel Design trademark were seized, the agency said in a statement issued Dec. 12. Had the trademarks been genuine, the shipment would have been vauled at $83 million at retail.
Counterfeit Audemars Piguet
The watches were sized from a consignment truck at the CBP’s port of entry in Laredo, Texas.
“This seizure of $83 million in counterfeit watches is now the largest in port history and is the second multimillion dollar seizure involving the same Audemars Piguet design trademark in less than six months,” said Sidney Aki, CBP port director, Laredo Port of Entry, in a statement.
This is the second significant watch seizure announced this month. In November, the CBP seized a huge cargo of counterfeit Rolex, TAG Heuer, Omega, and Breitling watches.
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