Thousands of fake Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel products seized in Ohio, officials say

Customs officers have seized a large shipment of counterfeit designer jewelry and scarves in Cincinnati, according to a release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

If the products had been genuine, they would have been worth around $3.09 million, the release said.

The shipment, which was seized on Nov. 30, included 1,830 scarves, bracelets, earrings and rings with branding from designers like Louis Vuitton, Chanel, Gucci, Cartier, Hermes and Versace, the release said. Officers suspected the products were counterfeit because of their poor quality, and they were confirmed to be counterfeit by trade experts.

“As the holiday is approaching, I urge consumers to purchase their gifts from legitimate retailers and websites,” Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie said in the release. “Counterfeit goods impact our economic success in a negative way, and purchasing these items fund criminal networks.”

The agency has previously warned holiday shoppers to be cautious of buying counterfeit goods.

Also in November, customs officials found 13,586 counterfeit designer bags on a cargo ship that arrived in Los Angeles from China, the agency said in a Dec. 2 release.

“If the price of the product seems too good to be true, it probably is,” Donald R. Kusser, Port Director of the Los Angeles/Long Beach Seaport, said in the release. “Counterfeit goods are often of poor quality and can even be unsafe for you and your family.”

The agency recommends that shoppers take several steps to ensure the quality of their designer products, including only buying them from a licensed retailer, reading seller reviews and looking for sellers’ contact information online, and being skeptical of suspiciously low prices for luxury items.

This story was originally published December 13, 2021 at 3:21 PM with the headline "Thousands of fake Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Chanel products seized in Ohio, officials say."