U.S. Customs officers in Pittsburgh say they’ve intercepted more than half a million dollars in counterfeit Rolex watches and luxury sunglasses — the latest in a string of high-value knockoff crackdowns.
The June 6 seizure included 13 fake Rolex watches and 12 pairs of imitation designer sunglasses, according to a CBP press release. The items arrived from the United Arab Emirates and were falsely labeled as “Empty Poly Bag Ladies Hand Bag.”
Instead, officials uncovered high-end counterfeit goods that would have retailed for $573,200 had they been genuine.
Among the knockoffs were six Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejusts, five Rolex Cosmograph Daytonas, and two “Diamond Iced-Out” watches. The sunglasses bore logos from Burberry, Chanel, Gucci, Miu Miu, and Valentino. The package was addressed to a location in Pittsburgh.
Counterfeits? Not on our watch.
CBP officers in Pittsburgh seized 13 counterfeit Rolex watches and 12 pairs of “designer” brand sunglasses valued at $573K, had they been authentic. Fake goods can threaten the health and safety of consumers.
Learn more: https://t.co/vLYIFbaqlI pic.twitter.com/Pjexe0VY8z
— CBP (@CBP) July 1, 2025
CBP officers flagged the shipment in April and submitted product images to the agency’s Consumer Products and Mass Merchandising Center of Excellence and Expertise. Trademark holders later confirmed the items were counterfeit.
“Unsuspecting consumers could be victimized twice by counterfeit products,” said Acting Port Director James Hindes. “They may end up paying close to authentic prices for cheaper knockoffs.”
CBP also warned that fake luxury goods may be manufactured with substandard materials and potentially tied to forced labor or organized crime.
The Pittsburgh bust follows several other high-profile seizures covered by The Dallas Express.
In May, CBP officers in Chicago confiscated $9 million in fake watches and more than 4,000 counterfeit driver’s licenses in one of the largest stings of the year.
The shipments, arriving from China and Hong Kong, included Rolex, Patek Philippe, and Cartier timepieces spread across 485 parcels. The fraudulent IDs were found in 340 shipments and closely resembled real state-issued licenses.
“These counterfeit driver’s licenses can lead to disastrous consequences,” said Chicago Port Director Michael Pfeiffer. “Foreign Terrorist Organizations, criminal organizations, and persons involved in fraud schemes use these counterfeit IDs to avoid attracting attention to their illegal activities.”
Weeks earlier, CBP agents in El Paso seized 1,700+ fake jewelry pieces modeled after Van Cleef & Arpels’ “Alhambra” collection. Though declared as “accessories and bracelets” worth just $15,480, the knockoffs would have retailed for over $9 million if real.
CBP continues to urge consumers to avoid deals that seem “too good to be true” and to purchase directly from trusted retailers to help prevent the spread of counterfeit goods.