Border Patrol Seizes Counterfeit Cleaning Products At Port of Entry

EL PASO, TX – CBP officers at the Bridge of the Americas commercial import facility in El Paso seized a shipment of what turned out to be tampered with and prohibited for sale in the U.S.

“In the current environment it is reprehensible that someone would attempt a scheme like this to prey upon the concerns and fears of our community, likely for financial gain,” said CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha. “Our officers remain focused and attentive to all threats they may encounter.”

An inspection of the cleaning products on March 16, showed the shipment manifesto claimed to contain cleaning supplies and toilet paper.

Inside agents found 168 boxes of Clorox bleach (127 oz.), 75 boxes of Pinol cleaner (33.81 oz.), 28 boxes of Fabuloso cleaner (169 oz.), 23 boxes of Pinol cleaner (27.99 oz.), 9 boxes of Clorox cleaner (31.44 oz.), and 20 boxes of Adorable brand toilet paper.

Agents and National Guard soldiers “noted that many of the bottles had no safety seals and appeared to have been tampered with.” Bleach bottles didn’t smell like bleach and field testing showed the products contained water.

Further testing revealed the primary ingredient in many of the bottles was only water. d. A representative from the Clorox Company also advised CBP that the Spanish labeled product was not permitted for sale in the U.S. and importation is a violation. All products were seized pending further investigation.