Skip to main content

An official website of the United States government

Official websites use .gov
A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS
A lock ( ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

  • Archived Content
    In an effort to keep CBP.gov current, the archive contains content from a previous administration or is otherwise outdated.
  1. Home
  2. Newsroom
  3. Local Media Release
  4. CBP Officers Seize Children’s Toys Found to Contain Lead

CBP Officers Seize Children’s Toys Found to Contain Lead

Release Date
Thu, 12/05/2019
Seized toy finger puppets contaminated
Seized toy finger puppets contaminated
with lead at the Port of Champlain, N.Y.

CHAMPLAIN, N.Y. - U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers seized 190 toy finger puppets after it was determined that they contained excessive amounts of lead. 

Yesterday, CBP officers at the Port of Champlain seized 190 toy finger puppets after coordination with the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Officers had targeted the shipment of toys that originated in Ottawa, Ontario and was destined to a distribution center for future consumer purchasing. After examining the products, the shipment was detained and a sample was sent to the CPSC for further lead contamination tests. Subsequently, the shipment was seized and sent for destruction due to the lead-positive lab results within the finger puppets.      

“Our CBP officers are our first line of defense and this seizure of lead contaminated toys proves their commitment to ensure the safety of American consumers,” stated Area Port Director Steve Bronson. “We have a great partnership with the Consumer Product Safety Commission and together we were able to keep these contaminated toys out of the hands of our children.”

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between official ports of entry. CBP is charged with securing the borders of the United States while enforcing hundreds of laws and facilitating lawful trade and travel.

Last Modified: Feb 13, 2024