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PHILADELPHIA (WTXF) - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Philadelphia say they seized 269 pieces of designer brand jewelry from Hong Kong March 6, which, if authentic, held a manufacturer suggested retail price (MSRP) of nearly $1.4 million.
U. S. Customs says the jewelry was flown into Philadelphia International in early February from Hong Kong.
The necklaces, bracelets and diamond pendants bare the names of famous designers--Cartier and Chanel --complete with serial number.
However, when a customs officer took a hard look something was off.
"You realize there's something wrong. There's too much in it," Robert Johnson said.
Officials say the jewelry was fake --269 pieces of glittering fakes made to look like high-end stuff with a value of nearly 1.4 million dollars. It was on its way to a Philadelphia address and likely into the collection of an unsuspecting buyer, according to customs.
It happens all the time, according to the agency. In 2017, its officers across the country seized an average of 3.3 million dollars worth of fake or tainted products every day.
Customs says it's a hit to the U.S. economy and a threat to the health and safety of Americans.