X-ray analysis leads to $3.1m fake watch seizure in Chicago

US Customs and Border Protection officers have seized 193 counterfeit watches at the International Mail Facility at Chicago O’Hare, mainly knock-offs of Rolex timepieces.

All told, 175 parcels were seized at the facility between June 21 and July 6 after CBP suspicions were aroused, either because they were mis-manifested or had anomalies when examined using X-ray equipment.

The officers had the watches inspected and appraised by an import specialist, and due to “poor packaging, low value and poor quality they were deemed counterfeit”, according to CBP. At genuine item selling prices, the watches would be worth at least $3.1m but were likely destined for cut-price sales.

Last week, another fake Rolex watch was intercepted by CBP San Juan Field Operations in a parcel coming from Hong Kong via air courier, along with 201 counterfeit designer wallets. If genuine, the fake watch would be worth $120,000, while the wallets would have a value of $140,000.