Illegal Botox listed as 'leggings' seized in Cincinnati
Multiple shipments of counterfeit Botox injections listed on a manifest as "leggings" and "facial gift" were seized in Cincinnati by U.S. Customs and Border Protection Officers (CBP), according to a statement released Thursday.
The packages came from Shenzhen, China, the release states, with destinations at private residences in Alabama, Texas and Utah. CBP officers at the DHL express consignment facility in Cincinnati seized the shipments, reports The Cincinnati Enquirer, which is part of the USA TODAY Network.
Botox, or botulinum toxin, cannot be imported into the U.S. without proper documentation, the release states. The product is restricted by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, who issued an import alert detailing how to identify legal shipments of Botox and which pharmaceutical companies are legitimate.
Buyers who do confirm that their purchases are compliant with state and federal import regulations could have their items seized.
“Illegal supply chains try to exploit online retail portals and the international mail and express consignment environments by shipping to individual consumers who may be unaware of proper import requirements,” said assistant area port director Eugene Matho. “However, CBP will take all appropriate actions necessary to protect the health and safety of American consumers.”
The U.S. Customs and Border Protection encourages shoppers to check information about admissibility requirements and the clearance process for online goods before buying.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Botox injections counterfeit shipment from China seized in Cincinnati
