Fake Drugs Top List of Items Seized by US Customs that Threaten Consumer Safety

January 25, 2012 6:09 pm

Counterfeit pharmaceuticals made up the largest portion of seized items in the Consumer Safety and Technology category, at 28% when ranked by domestic value, as reported by United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP). The report “Intellectual Property Rights: Fiscal Year 2011 Seizure Statistics,” prepared by the CBP Office of International Trade, indicates that “The domestic value of counterfeit pharmaceutical seizures in FY 2011 rose by more than $11 million, an increase of almost 200%.” Pharmaceuticals were the third largest category among all seized fake commodities in 2011, with consumer electronics and footwear making up the majority of seized counterfeits. Counterfeit pharmaceuticals were a target of enforcement efforts by CBP and Immigration and Customs Enforcement in 2011, as noted in the report.