HSI agents seize counterfeit, smuggled Mexican medicines at El Paso swap meet, shops

Daniel Borunda, El Paso Times
·2 min read

Should you buy medication at a swap meet? Probably not.

Agents with Homeland Security Investigations seized more than 10,600 doses of counterfeit Mexican medicines and prescription drugs at an El Paso swap meet and mom-and-pop stores last week, officials said Thursday.

HSI officials said the medicines — for illnesses ranging from colds to cancer — had been illegally imported from Mexico.

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The medications were seized March 17 as part of an ongoing investigation by the HSI El Paso Commercial Fraud Group along with U.S. Customs and Border Protection and representatives of the pharmaceutical industry.

Authorities said the medicine seizures took place at:

  • Bronco Swap Meet, 8410 Alameda Ave. in El Paso's Lower Valley.

  • Ortiz Produce and Groceries, 1331 Medea Drive in San Elizario.

  • Mi Mercadito, 11401 North Loop Drive in Socorro.

  • Mi Tienda Market, 10076 North Loop Drive in Socorro.

The four businesses were issued cease-and-desist notices regarding the sales of prescription only, misbranded or potentially counterfeit pharmaceuticals, HSI said in a news statement.

Homeland Security Investigations seized illegally imported, counterfeit and prescription Mexican medicines at El Paso-area mom-and-pop stores and a swap meet on March 17.
Homeland Security Investigations seized illegally imported, counterfeit and prescription Mexican medicines at El Paso-area mom-and-pop stores and a swap meet on March 17.

More:Why do people in the U.S. cross the border into Mexico for health care?

"Aside from the risks involved with auto-medicating that may cause drug resistance, buying medications that require a prescription from unauthorized sellers and consuming them poses a great danger; they may contain toxic, possibly fatal doses of dangerous ingredients," HSI El Paso Special Agent in Charge Francisco B. Burrola said in a statement.

HSI is the main investigative arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.

"Consumers should be cautious because the packaging and form of counterfeit medicines may resemble authentic medications," Burrola said. "The best practice is to buy medications with a legitimate prescription from locations with a licensed pharmacist on site."

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This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: HSI seizes counterfeit Mexican prescription drugs at El Paso swap meet