Headlines

$20M+ in Designer Jewelry Seized at Detroit Border

It was destined for a New York auction house.

Published

3 years ago

November 20, 2020

INSTORE Staff

Shown here is undeclared jewelry seized at Detroit Windsor Tunnel Nov. 16.

DETROIT — Federal authorities seized more than $20 million in designer jewelry at the Detroit Windsor Tunnel.

The jewelry was destined for a New York auction house where it was to be appraised and eventually sold on behalf of the owner, a Canadian citizen, according to a press release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection.

MLive reports that the jewelry included “a diamond necklaces, rings and bracelets by Harry Winston.”

The “undeclared and unmanifested” merchandise was discovered after an investigation revealed a courier service was hired to transport the package to a Detroit-based contact, who was to then make final delivery, authorities said.

The driver of the vehicle claimed no knowledge of the contents of the package, and was subsequently returned to Canada, according to the release.

The owner of the jewelry was informed the pieces would be seized based on importation contrary to law and for failure to declare the merchandise upon entry to the U.S.

“For the traveling public, this example underscores the importance of knowing what is in their possession when attempting to make entry into the United States, and declaring it accordingly,” said Port Director Devin Chamberlain. “Officers in Detroit did an excellent job in discovering and securing this high-value undeclared merchandise.”

She Wanted to Spend More Time with Her Kids. She Called Wilkerson.

Your children are precious. More precious than gold? Absolutely! Just ask Lesley Ann Davis, owner of Lesley Ann Jewels, an independent jewelry store that — until the end of 2023 — had quite a following in Houston, Texas. To spend more time with her four sons, all in high school, she decided to close her store. Luckily, she was familiar with Wilkerson and called them as soon as she knew she wanted to move on to bigger, better and more family-focused things. Was she happy with her decision? Yes, she was. Says Davis, “Any owner looking to make that life change, looking to retire, looking to close, looking for a pause in their career, I would recommend Wilkerson. Hands down!”