U.S. authorities say they have begun seizing illegal parcel shipments of the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic at ports of entry as smugglers take advantage of programs that expedite duty-free entry of small-dollar imports.
Ozempic joins a soaring number of illegal medications, including synthetic drugs like fentanyl, entering the United States through e-commerce sales channels.
Customs and Border Protection officers have confiscated 11 Ozempic-related shipments this year since February at DHL Express’ main sortation hub at Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport, the agency announced last week. All the shipments originated in Colombia and were destined for New York, Massachusetts and Texas. Most shipments held more than 100 pre-filled injection pens, with a combined value of $887,000 for comparable legitimate products.
The seizures represent the first time CBP inspectors in the central United States have seen contraband Ozempic, said Steven Bansbach, a spokesman for the Chicago field office, which has jurisdiction in parts of 12 states. Officers in May also seized a small number of Ozempic parcels at Chicago O’Hare International Airport, he added. All the entries were classified as de minimis shipments, meaning their declared value of $800 or less made them exempt from import duties and filing a formal import declaration.
The concern is that people may be trying to buy Ozempic and related drugs at a lower cost by buying them from sources outside the country…
