Products worth millions of dollars, including fake erectile dysfunction drugs, were seized from a Hong Kong shipment at Los Angeles International Airport, according to customs and border protection officials.
Last month, the federal agents seized thousands of fake Gucci and other high-fashion products at LAX. Other products include Chanel, Louis Vuitton, Versace, Nike, Fendi, Adidas, Under Armor, and YSL.
They also seized thousands of erectile dysfunction (ED) pills containing sildenafil, a prescription drug, and heartburn pills containing ranitidine.
The agents seized 2,160 fake ED pills of Sildenafil, a prescription drug advised for the treatment of erectile dysfunction in men. The officials seized 4,500 pills of ranitidine, which is used to treat and prevent gastric ulcers.
The seized items were discovered on June 25 on a shipment of 99 boxes, weighing more than 3,800 pounds. The shipment from Hong Kong was labeled as “Ladies Tops Storage Bag Empty,” according to the officials.
In a press release, the U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) said, “If genuine, the seized merchandise would have had an estimated manufacturer’s suggested retail price of $1,884,769.”
The ED pills were not necessarily fake but considered unregulated because the FDA approval is required for the importation of any medication in the United States, according to CBP spokesperson Jaime Ruiz.
“Trade in illegitimate goods is associated with smuggling and other criminal activities, and often funds criminal enterprises,” said CBP Director of Field Operations Carlos Martel. “CBP officers and import specialists remain vigilant in detecting, intercepting and seizing illegitimate products and enforcing all trade laws,” he added.
