Smuggling Erectile Dysfunction Chemicals
Tadalafil Found in Passenger's Luggage Had Estimated Domestic Value is $179,000
U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers at Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), Tom Bradley International Terminal stopped the attempt to smuggle over 63.3 pounds of tadalafil, the main chemical component of erectile dysfunction drugs. The substance with an estimated domestic value of $179,000 was seized on January 6.
CBP officers referred a 40 year-old Korean national, for secondary baggage examination. During their inspection of his two carry-on luggage, CBP officers noticed several heat sealed pouches containing a white powdery substance. The passenger claimed the powder was a Chinese herb.
The pouches were detained and samples of the substance were sent to Laboratories and Scientific Services (LSS), CBP’s scientific arm. LSS chemists identified the powder as tadalafil. A filed application or approval is required to introduce a new drug into interstate commerce which the passenger lacked.
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