Cincinnati CBP Discovers Unapproved Weight Loss Drugs

Cincinnati officers report that these types of seizures date back to the summer months.

CINCINNNATI – Since the start of summer, officers at the port of Cincinnati have seized several unapproved shipments of the weight loss drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, and Trulicity.

This trend is continuing into the fall as Cincinnati CBP seized two more unapproved shipments containing other weight loss drugs.

Cincinnati CBP reported Thursday that two shipments were seized on October 5 and October 14.

In the first shipment, officers found Mounjaro injectable pens of 2.5mg, 5mg, and 7mg. The shipment was arriving from a pharmacy in the United Kingdom and was headed to a residence in Ohio. The shipment, which violated the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FDCA) was seized by CBP.

On October 14, a shipment arrived from Hong Kong. The shipment contained 20 vials of Semaglutide 10mg and 150 vials of Titzepatide 30 mg. The shipment had a total domestic value of $45,450 and was seized by CBP. This shipment was also going to a residence in Ohio.

Cincinnati CBP says imported drugs must meet FDA standards for quality, safety, and effectiveness. Currently, very few online pharmacies are compliant with U.S. pharmacy standards, which poses health risks to consumers who purchase what they believe is a genuine product at a much lower cost.

“These types of unapproved medications are common seizures our officers see on a regular basis,” said LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, Director Field Operations-Chicago. “Customs and Border Protection officers will continue to work with the trade industry and our consumer safety partners to intercept illicit and potentially dangerous products at our nation’s ports of entry.”