Dangerous human growth hormones stopped by Chicago CBP

CHICAGO – U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers in Chicago had a busy month. During March officers seized 351 shipments in air cargo totaling 455 pounds of unapproved human growth hormones and steroids. These items would have been valued at over $3.2 million. Most of these shipments originated from China and were destined for different cities within the U.S. The packages were being smuggled into the country in large, or master carton, shipping boxes containing many smaller, unmanifested, individual shipments. These unmanifested shipments were prelabeled with shipping labels and would later be sent through a domestic parcel carrier to the intended recipient. “Customs and Border Protection officers examine arriving parcels and will continue to seize any illicit product violating our nation’s import laws,” said Michael Pfeiffer, CBP’s senior officer at the Chicago Field Office. “Consumers who purchase these products should stop this activity as it is dangerous. The ingredients are unverified and may not have the appropriate regulatory certification required for sale in the U.S. Do you want to put your health or your child’s health in jeopardy because you think you found a good deal?” HGH has a legitimate medical use in treating children with certain growth disorders and adults with other conditions, but HGH is required to be prescribed by a health care professional. The side effects of HGH abuse are serious, such as mood swings, irreversible overgrowth in the hands, feet and face, organ enlargement, joint and muscle pain, high blood pressure, heart failure, diabetes, and an increased risk of cancer. Anabolic steroids are synthetically produced variants of naturally occurring hormones that are abused to produce muscle growth, enhance athletic or other physical performance, and improve physical appearance. Steroids have been classified as a Schedule III substance under the Controlled Substances Act. Abuse can lead to dramatic mood swings, increased feelings of hostility, high cholesterol levels, and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. Anabolic steroid use may also cause psychological dependence and addiction, as well as permanent physical changes. CBP officers screen international travelers and cargo and search for illicit narcotics, unreported currency, weapons, counterfeit consumer goods, prohibited agriculture, and other illicit products that could potentially harm the American public, U.S. businesses, and our nation’s safety and economic vitality.