U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized 2,350 erectile dysfunction pills that were falsely labeled as health supplements in the St. Louis area over a two-day period late last month. The illegal pills were shipped from Singapore to St. Louis and were to be delivered to homes in Arnold, Pacific and Wentzville, the CBP reported.
Three shipments containing sildenafil citrate and tadalafil tablets, both active ingredients in Viagra and Cialis, were intercepted from Jan. 29 through Jan. 30. The pills were worth about $55,000, if sold legally in the U.S., according to the CBP.
Officials warned that few online pharmacies comply with U.S. pharmacy laws and standards, making the purchase and use of those drugs risky.
“Our highly-skilled officers continue to focus on our mission to protect our country and its citizens,” LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director of field operations in Chicago, said in a written statement. “CBP works closely with FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and other partner agencies to effect this mission and make sure controlled substances with unknown additives or inferior standards do not make their way into American households.”