U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have seized a shipment of counterfeit Van Cleef & Arpels jewelry worth more than $9.2 million, had it been genuine. The package was intercepted in El Paso, Texas, as it entered the United States from China.
According to CBP, the shipment contained 1,708 pieces, including rings, bracelets, earrings, necklaces, and other jewelry items. Many of the pieces copied the famous four-leaf clover designs from Van Cleef & Arpels’ Alhambra collection.
Authentic Alhambra bracelets usually sell for about $5,000. Earrings and rings typically cost between $3,500 and $7,000. Necklaces can start at $10,000 and go beyond $100,000, especially for high-jewelry versions set with diamonds.
Van Cleef & Arpels confirmed to CBP that the items were counterfeit. Officials authorized the seizure on April 21. The shipment was originally declared as “accessories and bracelets” valued at $15,480.
“Buying counterfeit luxury jewelry may seem like a good deal,” said Hector Mancha, CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations. “But it can also support criminal activities like money laundering, forced labor, and organized crime.”
Mancha also warned that counterfeit goods are often low-quality. He added that they cause U.S. businesses to lose billions of dollars each year and take away American jobs and tax revenue.
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