U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) have intercepted fake coronavirus (COVID-19) testing kits from the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX).
Over the weekend, it was announced that the suspected counterfeit tests arrived at the airport from the United Kingdom on March 12.
Carlos C. Martel, CBP Director of Field Operations in Los Angeles, released a statement about the confiscated items labeled as “Purified Water Vials” with a declared value of $196.81.
“Protecting the health and safety of the American people is a top priority for CBP,” Martel said.
“This significant interception, at a time when the U.S. is in the midst of a National Emergency, demonstrates our CBP officers’ vigilance and commitment to ensure dangerous goods are intercepted and not a threat to our communities and our people.”
The organization also took to Twitter to raise awareness about the testing kits.
According to the agency, the testing kits appear to have been marketed for consumers to utilize “at-home.” CBP has confirmed that there are no online testing kits for the coronavirus. Only verified state and local officials are authorized to administer authentic coronavirus testing kits.
ICYMI: CBP officers seized suspected counterfeit COVID-19 test kits. At-home COVID-19 test kits found online are fake. Authorized testing for COVID-19 is conducted in verified state & local public health labs across the US.
— CBP (@CBP) March 15, 2020
Read more: https://t.co/U9hdERABkN pic.twitter.com/o29Fsi9CfT
LaFonda Sutton-Burke, CBP Port Director at LAX, also released a statement reiterating the agency’s commitment to intercepting counterfeit goods before they reach consumers.
“CBP commits substantial resources to detect, intercept and seize illicit goods arriving in the air package environment,” Sutton-Burke said. “Smugglers are constantly attempting to take advantage of consumers by disguising their illicit goods as legitimate shipments.”
The latest news follows a string of reports about the coronavirus outbreak in the United States.
Over the weekend, concerned Americans rushed to stores nationwide buying groceries and other essentials as the temporary closure of stores become a reality in an effort to flatten the circulation of the virus.