Popular prescription drug Ozempic seized by Cincinnati CBP

CINCINNATI –Many people know Ozempic for its prescribed use in the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Over the past few years, the drug has grown in popularity as an alternative weight loss tool with incredible results. Ozempic is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers in Cincinnati recently seized 11 shipments packed full of pre-filled medications by prescription.

Officers at the Port of Cincinnati were conducting inspections on cargo out of Colombia when they discovered shipments containing pre-filled injection pens containing Ozempic. A total of 11 FDA-regulated Ozempic shipments have been seized so far this calendar year at the Port of Cincinnati, with the first shipment discovered in February. Each shipment originated in Colombia and was destined for New York, Massachusetts and Texas. Most shipments contained over 100 pre-filled injection pens. If all 11 shipments were legitimate with FDA approval, they would have a combined value of $887,000.

Officials contacted the FDA to confirm that the drug cannot be imported into the United States without going through the appropriate steps and submitting the required documentation. Unfortunately, very few online pharmacies comply with US pharmacy standards. This poses health risks to consumers who buy what they believe is an original product at a much lower cost. The product they receive may be inferior. The risks that come from using medications from unknown sources include unknown ingredients, unusual side effects, and lack of product effectiveness.

“Prescription drugs smuggled from outside the US, especially injectable products that must be sterile, can pose a serious health risk to those who use them. The drugs have not undergone proper import processes and may contain unknown or dangerous ingredients,” said Dan Solis, FDA Assistant Commissioner for Import Operations. “We will continue to be vigilant at ports of entry to stop these potentially dangerous products, preventing them from reaching American customers and protecting public health.”

“Collaborative work with the FDA has proven to help combat the rise of e-commerce sales of illegal drugs by out-of-state entities that do not comply with established regulations,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director of Field Operations in Chicago. “One of the priorities of the BKP mission is to facilitate legal trade. Stopping illegal shipments of Ozempic saves consumers a significant amount of money and potentially dangerous health risks.”

CBP enforces laws for partner agencies including FDA. CBP works together with the FDA to combat the importation of illegal drugs and beauty products that pose health risks to consumers. If you would like to learn more information, the FDA provides guidance on how human drugs can be legitimately imported into the United States.

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