Custom officers in east China's Zhejiang Province have seized more than 6,000 pieces of fake jewelry inscribed with the famous brand name of Tiffany & Co. over the past five months.

The jewels, which have been confirmed as counterfeit by Beijing Zhucheng Trademark Agency, representing Tiffany in China, were seized in three separate cases since March by Wenzhou customs in Zhejiang Province.

Customs officers confiscated more than 5,000 necklaces, bracelets, earrings and other types of ornaments bearing a Tiffany & Co. mark on March 8 and 24 in U.S.-bound mail.

On July 30, 907 pieces of forged jewelry were discovered in a parcel labeled "handicraft" heading to New York, said Jin Li, a customs officer.

According to the handwriting on the cover of the parcels, the three packages were sent by the same person, said Jin.

Genuine Tiffany jewelry is usually sold for at least US$150 in the United States, according to officers of Zhucheng.

Examination of parcels will be reinforced in an effort to protect intellectual property rights, said Jin.

(Xinhua News Agency August 8, 2007)