Last week, Cincinnati Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized more than 10,000 fake Viagra pills in two different shipments destined to a person in Brooklyn, New York.
If those pills have had been genuine, they would cost nearly $238,050, according to the officers.
They said the bottles had labels mentioning that they were manufactured in the United States. However, the officials suspected those claims and said the counterfeit Viagra pills were being imported from the Middle East with potential links to China and Hong Kong.
Viagra, which contains sildenafil citrate, is a prescription drug manufactured by Pfizer. It is advised for the treatment of erectile dysfunction (ED) – a condition characterized by the inability of a man to achieve or sustain an erection.
If take accidentally along with certain drugs like nitrates or alpha-blockers, Viagra may decrease blood pressure to a potentially dangerous level.
In a news release, Cincinnati Port Director Richard Gillespie said, “Our officers and specialists are exceptional at anticipating and identifying illicit shipments of controlled medications, and they are entrusted with enforcing hundreds of laws for other government agencies.”
“We work to maintain our interagency ties to ensure a strong border with secure and compliant cross-border trade,” he added.
The CBP says prescription drugs manufactured in non-regulated foreign companies often contain dangerous ingredients or ineffective compounds. Although their packaging and labeling can be similar to brand products, undeclared ingredients and poor quality of drugs could endanger the user.
Dan Solis, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Enforcement and Import Operations in FDA’s Office of Regulatory Affairs, said, “FDA is committed to protecting public health with our other government agency partners by working to secure the drug supply chain against counterfeit and unapproved medications that enter the United States through fraudulent sources.” The news was published on FOX 19.
