SHREVEPORT, LA —U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers assigned to Shreveport have seized a string of illegal prescription medication since January.
The illegal medication was discovered in various packages mailed to addresses in throughout Shreveport and Northwest Louisiana, some of which have been prosecuted criminally by the U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Louisiana.
Since January, CBP officers have seized pills and syringes of illegal prescription drugs, including human growth hormone, Valium, Hyaluronic Acid Gel, sodium hyaluronate gel, Botox, Zoloft, and various types of steroids, bringing the total amount of total drug seizures in the CBP New Orleans Field Office, the office that oversees Shreveport, to more than 9,500 lbs. However, Jim Norris, Port Director for CBP Shreveport, said these seizures do not indicate an epidemic at this time.
“I wouldn’t say we have any more of a problem than a like-sized city, but we will take every opportunity to keep these dangerous drugs off of the street,” Norris said. “Consumers may think they are saving a few dollars by ordering this medication from other countries, but if it has not been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), they could be further putting their health at risk.”
Medications that have been purchased over the Internet are subject to approval by the FDA, and shippers must be registered with the Drug Enforcement Administration. Shipments that fail to be approved can be seized without reimbursement to the consumer. The consumer and exporter may also be subject to further penalties. For more information on prescription drugs and other Internet purchases, visit the CBP website.
In addition to the seizure of the prescription drugs, CBP initiated a penalty against an exporter for not making a proper declaration.