BALTIMORE – Customs and Border Protection’s Area Port of Baltimore expedited the clearance of two huge pharmaceutical rubber stopper presses at Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport on Sunday.
stopper presses under Operation Warp Speed.
The presses, imported by West Pharmaceuticals Services from Germany to their facility in the United States, supports the emergency expansion of production capacity of rubber stoppers used in the containment of injectable medications. According to West, these stoppers are necessary components in the development and distribution of medications, vaccines and therapeutics produced by their pharmaceutical industry customers and used in the fight against COVID-19. West is headquartered in Exton, Pa., and supports its customers from locations in North and South America, Europe, Asia and Australia.
CBP worked closely with West to ensure that all required import documentation complied with all applicable U.S. import laws.
“Customs and Border Protection is pleased to assist in the expedited clearance of vital pharmaceutical industry machinery in our nation’s collective race to acquire a life-saving COVID-19 vaccine,” said Casey Durst, Director of Field Operations for CBP’s Baltimore Field Office. “CBP remains committed to facilitating legitimate international trade that helps sustain our nation’s economic vitality and security.”
CBP’s Trade Operations facilitates legitimate trade, enforces law, and protects the American economy to ensure consumer safety and to create a level playing field for American businesses.
On a typical day during 2019, CBP processed 97,342 entries of merchandise worth about $7.3 billion, and collected $224 million in duties, taxes and other fees, including more than $197 million in duties at our 328 air, land, and sea ports of entry. Learn more about what CBP accomplished during a “Typical Day in 2019.” Learn more about CBP’s Trade facilitation and enforcement mission.
CBP's border security mission is led at ports of entry by CBP officers from the Office of Field Operations. CBP officers screen international travelers and cargo and search for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, and other illicit products that could potentially harm the American public, U.S. businesses, and our nation’s safety and economic vitality.
Please visit CBP Ports of Entry to learn more about how CBP’s Office of Field Operations secures our nation’s borders. Learn more about CBP at www.CBP.gov.
Follow the Director of CBP’s Baltimore Field Office on Twitter at @DFOBaltimore and on Instagram at @dfobaltimore for breaking news, current events, human interest stories and photos.