LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- U.S. Customers and Border Protection (CBP) agents in Louisville seized a package containing $2.5 million in counterfeit jewelry.

In a news release Tuesday, CBP said the package — which arrived Oct. 26 from Hong Kong and was headed to New York — contained bracelets, necklaces and earrings:

  • 560 fake Cartier-style earrings
  • 403 fake Chanel necklaces
  • 398 fake Chanel earrings
  • 379 fake Van Cleef and Arpels bracelets
  • 154 fake Van Cleef and Arpels earrings
  • 128 fake Van Cleef and Arpels necklaces
  • 52 fake Cartier Love bracelets

Custom Agents said -- had all those pieces been genuine -- they'd sold at retail for $2.51 million.

"Intellectual property theft threatens America's economic vitality and funds criminal activities and organized crime," Thomas Mahn, port director-Louisville, said in a news release Tuesday. "Our officers are dedicated to protecting private industry and consumers by removing these kinds of shipments from our commerce."

Steve Bansbach, a CBP officer based in Chicago, said the counterfeit items hurt the local economy and can even be deadly.

"Some of these funds actually fund organized crime and transnational crimes, and also it actually devalues the price of those products," Bansbach said.

Brian Merkley, president of Merkley Kendrick Jewelers in Louisville, said if it sounds too good to be true, it's buyer beware. 

"Everybody's out to save a dollar," he said. "Ultimately, they're buying look-alikes that wind up really not saving them but costing them in the long run."

Merkley Kendrick Jewelers is one of two Official Rolex Dealers in Metro Louisville. 

"We go through every watch that we sell. The majority of them we have the boxes and we have the paperwork and we have the original tags for those watches," said Merkley. "Specifically with Rolex. We have an in house Rolex certified watch technician."

Merkley Kendrick Jewelers has been in business since 1832. That's why Merkley said maintaining the integrity and reputation of the family owned business is crucial. So, even when dealing with trade-ins and merchandise they don't typically carry, the items are thoroughly inspected and the staff works with vendors to authenticate.

CBP officials also said they recently seized nearly 8,000 counterfeit driver's license in another shipment.

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