Shipments of Counterfeit Hormones and Hazardous Chemicals Intercepted from Hong Kong

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CBP seized 71 shipments of counterfeit hormones and chemicals in a coordinated operation across seven U.S. ports and airports.

More than 70 shipments containing counterfeit Human Growth Hormones and other dangerous substances were seized during a week-long operation conducted by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers across multiple key shipping hubs. The enforcement effort, centered in Chicago and involving seven major ports and airports, targeted a surge in illegal chemical imports entering through the Mail, Express Consignment, and Air Cargo networks.

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Between March 16 and 22, 2025, CBP officers focused on identifying high-risk packages linked to the illegal shipment of precursor chemicals and other contraband. Of the 71 total shipments seized, 67 contained HGH and steroids, three included precursor chemicals, and one held the chemical 4-Butanediol. Many of these packages were sent from Hong Kong and were intended for delivery to various U.S. cities. The shipments were often disguised using the “master carton” smuggling method, which conceals multiple pre-addressed and mis-declared parcels within one large shipment, later redistributed by domestic carriers.

CBP data shows a sharp rise in chemical seizures this fiscal year. From October to December 2024 alone, 151 such shipments were intercepted—already surpassing the total number seized during the entire previous fiscal year. The Office of Field Operations, which oversees the CBP’s border security efforts, initiated the operation in response to this growing trend.

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Along with Chicago, the coordinated enforcement included participation from CBP personnel at John F. Kennedy International Airport, Los Angeles International Airport, the ports of Memphis, Louisville, Indianapolis, and Cincinnati. The operation demonstrates CBP’s ongoing commitment to preventing hazardous materials from entering U.S. supply chains and reaching American consumers.

Article by multiple RFHC contributors, based upon information from a press release issued by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP).

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