PHILADELPHIA, PA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Philadelphia seized more than 32,000 unapproved prescription tablets shipped from Europe to an address in Spalding County, including tramadol, lorazepam, diazepam, alprazolam, and zolpidem.
The seizures included 17,000 tramadol tablets intercepted April 30 in an air parcel from the Netherlands and another parcel from London intercepted April 29 containing 7,500 lorazepam tablets, 2,600 zolpidem tablets, 2,500 diazepam tablets, and 2,500 alprazolam tablets.
Both parcels were falsely manifested — one as “XOMETRY” and the other as “100 X TSHIRT (GIFT)” — to conceal the controlled substances inside. The shipments were destined for the same Georgia address.
Tramadol is a Schedule IV synthetic opioid prescribed for moderate to severe pain. Lorazepam, diazepam, and alprazolam — sold as Ativan, Valium, and Xanax — are benzodiazepines used to treat anxiety disorders, panic attacks, and related conditions. Zolpidem, sold as Ambien, is prescribed for insomnia. All are classified as Schedule IV controlled substances.
CBP warned consumers that prescription drugs purchased online from overseas vendors may contain counterfeit or dangerous substances, including toxic fillers such as fentanyl.
“Our primary concerns, especially with illegally imported bulk orders of prescription medicines, are the efficacy and safety of an unapproved medicine, and the serious danger that unapproved medicine pose to the importer’s unwitting victims,” Elliott N. Ortiz said.
“Customs and Border Protection urges consumers to protect themselves and take only medicines prescribed by medical professionals and purchased from known pharmacies,” Ortiz added. “Cheaper is not always better.”
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