A New York woman who was using a Connecticut address to illegally import counterfeit luxury watches from China and then sell them online in a multi-million-dollar illicit operation has been arrested, officials said.

Si Man Lam, 43, of Brooklyn, New York, has been arrested for trafficking counterfeit luxury and designer brand watches imported from China. Lam has been charged with trafficking in and conspiring to traffic in counterfeit goods and services, which carries a maximum term of 10 years in prison, and conspiracy to commit money laundering, a charge that carries a maximum term of 20 years in prison, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for Connecticut.

As alleged in court documents, between April 2020 to July 2022, U.S. Customs and Border Protection allegedly seized approximately 74 packages addressed to the Waterbury residence of Izedin Kimca, or his aliases, that contained counterfeit luxury watches, including counterfeit Rolex, Audemars, and Panerai watches, having a total estimated manufacturers’ suggested retail price of more than $16 million had the watches been authentic.

In addition, between February 2021 to April 2022, CBP seized approximately 22 packages addressed to the Worcester, Mass., residence of Denis and Klevis Nako that contained counterfeit luxury watches, including counterfeit Rolex and Cartier watches, having a total estimated manufacturers’ suggested retail price of more than $3 million had the watches been authentic.

Between February and June 2021, CBP seized seven packages that were addressed to Lam’s New York residences and contained approximately 378 counterfeit Rolex, Cartier, and other luxury watches having a total estimated manufacturers’ suggested retail price of approximately $6.4 million.

Officials allege that Kimca, Denis Nako, and Klevis Nako operated various websites, Instagram pages, and Facebook pages through which they advertised and sold counterfeit luxury watches that they had imported from China. During the investigation, law enforcement made multiple undercover transactions in which they purchased counterfeit Rolex watches from several of the Instagram accounts for approximately $200 to $300 per watch.

The proceeds of the sales were deposited into bank accounts belonging to or connected to Kimca, Denis Nako, and Klevis Nako. Between January 2021 and April 2024, more than $800,000 in funds were transferred from these accounts to Lam. Investigators identified Lam as the individual who was responsible for shipping the watches that were purchased over Instagram, including several of the watches purchased during the undercover investigation.

Kimca, Denis Nako, and Klevis Nako were arrested on April 3, 2024. Officials said that on April 5, 2024, law enforcement agents interviewed Lam at JFK Airport after she arrived from a trip to Hong Kong. Lam allegedly claimed that she worked as a home healthcare aid and denied having knowledge of the importation and sale of counterfeit goods. Working with others, Lam allegedly continued to sell and ship numerous counterfeit watches until approximately May 2026.

According to court documents, bank accounts associated with Lam allegedly revealed that between December 2020 and October 2025, she made more than $2.7 million in payments.

Lam was arrested on Aug. 26, 2026. Investigators say they conducted a court-authorized search of her residence and seized approximately $900,000 in cash. She has been detained since her arrest, officials said.

Kimca, Denis Nako, and Klevis Nako pleaded guilty to related charges. Klevis Nakohas been sentenced, and Kimca and Denis Nako await sentencing.

Stephen Underwood can be reached at sunderwood@courant.com