CINCINNATI—U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at a local express consignment facility in Cincinnati intercepted a shipment smuggling 15,750 Xanax pills on June 30.
CBP officers inspected the parcel from Britain because there were x-ray anomalies and the shipper is a known entity for shipping pharmaceuticals. When officers opened the package they found 63 plastic bottles marked as “Xanax XR 2mg” in a foil lined box. The street value of this shipment would have been over $230,000.
The parcel was destined for a residence in Texas, and was manifested as household goods. Xanax, a popular anxiety drug, is a schedule IV controlled substance and cannot be shipped to the United States without a valid prescription from a physician.
“The experience and skills of our CBP officers to be able to target and seize this parcel is possibly life-saving,” said Richard Gillespie, Port Director, Cincinnati. “These pills were destined for a residence and that person may be selling them. The buyer would not know how the pill was processed, which could be life threatening. It’s a dangerous game to play with life-threatening consequences.”
CBP conducts operations at ports of entry throughout the United States, and regularly screens arriving international passengers and cargo for narcotics, weapons, and other restricted or prohibited products. CBP strives to serve as the premier law enforcement agency enhancing the Nation’s safety, security, and prosperity through collaboration, innovation, and integration.