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

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.