Over $580,000 In Prohibited Test Kits Seized By Cincinnati CBP

Criminals are smuggling and selling counterfeit safety equipment, unapproved testing kits, medicines, and hygiene products to individuals across the country. 

(Cincinnati, Oh.) - The coronavirus pandemic has led to criminals exploiting the situation for an illegal financial gain. 

Since the beginning of the pandemic, U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have seen an increase in unapproved or counterfeit COVID-19 tests being shipped through the mail system.

Criminals are smuggling and selling counterfeit safety equipment, unapproved testing kits, medicines, and hygiene products to individuals across the country. 

In response to this problem, CBP is targeting imports and exports that may contain counterfeit or illicit good, specifically in the international mail and express consignment cargo environments. These ports include those belonging to the Chicago Field Office (CFO), the largest geographical field office in CBP.

With Cincinnati being one of these environments, there have already been many reported seizures. 

Cincinnati CBP officers have made a total of 62 seizures, including 29,438 kits with 52 shipments still awaiting FDA review. These kits had a domestic value of $588,760.

Seizures contained counterfeit kits, as well as unapproved and prohibited test kits. Some of the larger seizures were seizures of 5,000 kits and then three other seizures of 2,000 kits a piece. 

“Our officers know their role on the frontline is critical to the health and safety of the American people,” said Richard Gillespie, Port Director, Cincinnati. “At a time when the country is in the middle of a National Emergency, our officers are dedicated to protecting our citizens and ensuring their safety.”

The CFO includes most of the Midwestern United States, covering 28 Ports of Entry (POE), 10 User Fee Airports, and 3 major Express Consignment Operation (ECO) hubs (UPS, FedEx, & DHL) in 12 states (Illinois, Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Iowa, Kansas, Nebraska, South Dakota, most of Minnesota, and Erie, Pennsylvania).