That didn’t take long – U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at LAX seized a package containing what they suspect are counterfeit COVID-19 (corona virus) test kids from the UK.
Earlier this week, the CBP officers inspected a package labeled as “Purified Water Vials” with a declared value of $196.81, upon further inspection, CBP officers found six bags of vials filled with a white liquid and labeled “Corona Virus 2019nconv (COVID-19)” and “Virus1 Test Kit”.
CBP turned over the suspected fake test kids to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for analysis.
In general, there is something you can do if your shipment has been detained or seized for being suspected as counterfeit – however, in this situation, and given the current concerns over corona virus, the importer of record will likely not get this shipment returned and may receive a civil penalty notice from CBP in the upcoming weeks.