Cincinnati CBP seizes $3.5m in fake pharma

A week-long joint operation between Cincinnati Customs and Border Protection (CBP) and the FDA uncovered hundreds of boxes containing possible counterfeit and unapproved medications.

A wide variety of unapproved FDA drugs were discovered during inspections, including nearly 55,000 fake injectables and pills. Had all these items been legitimate, the combined value of all the products would have been over $3.5m, according to CBP.

Knock-offs claiming to be sought-after medicines used for weight-loss, including semaglutide (sold by Novo Nordisk as Ozempic and Wegovy), tirzepatide (sold by Eli Lilly as Mounjaro and Zepbound), and retatrutide (an experimental drug being developed by Lilly) were seized.

Among the intercepted products were 16,740 counterfeit pre-filled medicated pens, posing the risk that users could be exposed to non-sterile materials – risking infections – or potentially harmful substances.

A study reported last year found that counterfeit semaglutide injections contained levels of endotoxin that could indicate microbial contamination and levels of the active ingredient much higher than appeared on the label, raising the risk of serious side effects.

Various other medications were discovered in the crackdown, including wrinkle treatments Botox and Juvéderm, dermal fillers, erectile dysfunction medication, contact lenses, and other FDA-prohibited items.

The fake pharmaceuticals originated in many different countries, with most coming from Hong Kong, followed by China, Colombia and Korea, according to CBP, and were en route to destinations in 40 of the 50 states, including Washington DC. Most shipments were heading to Texas, Florida. Georgia, Colorado, California and New York.

"CBP officers in Cincinnati work tirelessly to combat the importation of illegal shipments of beauty products and medical injectables," said LaFonda Sutton-Burke, Director Field Operations-Chicago.

"These drugs can be expensive and hard to acquire in many locations, but CBP urges consumers to only purchase these medications from reputable sources. Cheap prices are not always the safest, especially when it comes to your health and wellbeing."