CINCINNATI – In a week-long joint operation between U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), CBP officers in Cincinnati seized 63 shipments of counterfeit and unapproved medications valued at nearly $270,000. The operation, which involved inspecting hundreds of packages, uncovered a wide range of counterfeit and unapproved FDA drugs, including counterfeit injectables and pills.
Among the seized drugs were counterfeit versions of Ozempic, Wegovy, and Trulicity, injectables known for their demand in weight loss, despite Ozempic being FDA-approved solely for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. A total of 12 shipments of counterfeit medicated pens were intercepted. Additional medications such as Botox, Minoxidil, and Riaxon were also seized. These pharmaceuticals originated from countries including China, South Korea, India, Italy, Guatemala, the United Kingdom, and Canada, and were destined for states like Indiana, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
FDA Assistant Commissioner for Import Operations, Dan Solis, emphasized the potential health risks posed by counterfeit and fraudulent prescription drugs, particularly injectable products that must be sterile. Solis warned that these drugs, which have not undergone proper FDA review or testing, could contain unknown or harmful ingredients, presenting serious dangers to consumers. “We will continue to work with our CBP partners to intercept these potentially dangerous products and protect public health,” he stated.
CBP and FDA urged consumers to only purchase pharmaceuticals from reputable sources, warning that unapproved products purchased online can be dangerous. LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director of Field Operations-Chicago, reinforced the message, noting that while some drugs may be difficult to acquire, “cheap prices are not always the safest, especially when it comes to your health and wellbeing.”
The joint operation is part of ongoing efforts by CBP and the FDA to protect the nation’s drug supply and prevent harmful, unapproved medications from entering the U.S. market. For more information, consumers are encouraged to consult FDA guidelines on legitimate drug importation.–News Desk