U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at an express consignment facility in Indianapolis have intercepted four packages containing counterfeit Botox vials. The seized products, if genuine, would have had a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $8,500.
Three of the shipments originated from Great Britain and were labeled as “Marketing Product Samples,” while the fourth shipment came from Indonesia and was marked as “Cosmetic Preparations.” Two packages were destined for residences in Michigan, with the remaining two headed to addresses in California and New Jersey. In total, officers confiscated 14 glass Botox vials (100 units), one glass Botox vial (200 units), and one glass Dysport vial (500 units).
Botox is classified as a restricted substance by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and requires proper documentation for importation into the United States. CBP collaborates with the FDA to prevent illegal medications and beauty products that could pose health risks from entering the country. The FDA provides guidance on legitimate drug importation while ensuring safety standards are met.
“These seizures of counterfeit Botox are one example of our collaborative efforts to ensure the American public is protected from illegal and harmful products entering the U.S. CBP urges consumers to only purchase these medications from reputable sources,” stated LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director, Field Operations-Chicago Field Office. She emphasized that while such drugs can be costly and difficult to obtain, low prices may not guarantee safety.
CBP enforces regulations for various partner agencies by targeting suspicious shipments imported into the U.S., taking enforcement actions when necessary. The health risks associated with these products include unknown ingredients that may be dangerous when sourced from unapproved online vendors. Consumers are advised to buy pharmaceuticals from reputable sources and ensure administration by trained medical professionals.
“Consumer health and safety are our key concerns when Customs and Border Protection officers enforce cosmetic imports,” said Melvin Dennis, Acting Port Director in Indianapolis. He warned that unapproved injectable products could cause serious harm due to being manufactured in unregulated facilities with potentially unauthentic ingredients.
CBP prevents entry of products that might harm community health, public safety, or national interests into the United States. Sometimes seemingly innocuous items can pose significant risks.
The agency provides basic information about admissibility requirements for e-commerce goods and advises buyers to verify compliance with state and federal import regulations before making purchases.
CBP operates at ports of entry across the nation, routinely screening international passengers and cargo for narcotics, weapons, and other restricted items. The agency aims to enhance national security through collaboration, innovation, integration, intelligence gathering, trust-building efforts.
Follow CBP’s Chicago Field Office on X @CBPChicago or @DFOChicago for more insights into how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures national borders.
U.S. Customs & Border Protection is America’s frontline: its largest law enforcement organization & world’s first unified border management agency comprising over 65k personnel safeguarding land-air-sea territories facilitating lawful travel-trade ensuring economic prosperity enhancing security via innovation-intelligence-collaboration-trust initiatives globally recognized leader serving citizens' interests nationwide effectively responsibly ethically efficiently sustainably innovatively collaboratively transparently diligently vigilantly proactively continuously consistently reliably dependably steadfastly unfailingly committedly dedicatedly wholeheartedly sincerely earnestly faithfully honestly justly fairly equitably inclusively respectfully humbly courteously kindly compassionately empathetically sympathetically graciously considerately attentively thoroughly comprehensively meticulously precisely accurately methodically systematically scientifically logically rationally reasonably 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