CINCINNATI — Cincinnati U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized six shipments of unapproved Food and Drug Administration (FDA) drugs on November 5.
The shipments originated in China, South Korea and Hong Kong where their destinations included Florida, Puerto Rico, Texas and Virginia, according to a Cincinnati CBP spokesperson.
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The drugs included Phenibut Hydrochloride, Botulinum Toxin, and fillers containing Lidocaine.
Phenibut Hydrochloride, also known as Fenibut, has never been an approved drug product in the U.S. and is considered unapproved by the FDA. It is a psychoactive drug originating in Russia, used both under prescription and recreationally, and has the potential for a variety of serious adverse effects for users.
The remaining five shipments of prescription drugs included injectable cosmetic treatments, also restricted by the FDA, CBP said in a press release.
The 100- and 200-Unit vials of Botulinum Toxin, Juvederm and Restylane fillers contain ingredients that are unknown, and consumers risk serious adverse health concerns and negative side effects.
“The FDA is especially concerned about the illegal importation of injectable prescription medications as these drugs may pose a significant risk to patients,” said Dan Solis, Assistant Commisioner for Import Operations.
Solis also said these type of, “injectable prescription drugs,” should only used under the supervision of medical professionals.
“Like the drugs seized by our partners at CBP, there is no way to know whether these drugs were made under good manufacturing practice conditions, and sterility of these products are not always assured,” he said. “Recreational drugs purported to be dietary supplements expose our communities to serious public health risks.”
The combined value of the products was $542,928 if they have been, “genuine and FDA-approved,” CBP said.
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