Counterfeit Masks Destined For Manalapan Seized By U.S. Customs

MANALAPAN, NJ – Officers from U.S. Customs and Border Protection in Chicago seized a shipment of counterfeit N95 face masks arriving from Schenzhen, China last week, authorities said.

The parcel was destined for a company in Manalapan, officials said in a news release. The identity of the company was not immediately made public.

The shipment, which was seized on Sept. 10, contained 500,000 N95 respirator masks worth an estimated $3,074,385 in the U.S. market, according to an appraisal performed by an import specialist.

30 masks from the parcels were subsequently sent to a CDC testing office in West Virginia, with tests concluding that 10 percent of the respirators tested had an efficiency rating under 95 percent.

The shipment was seized in a Homeland Security investigation under the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act Adulterated or Misbranded Products.

“Our CBP officers working with partners in HSI were able to stop these faulty mask[s] from being sold under the guise of fully protecting Americans,” said Shane Campbell, Area Port Director-Chicago in a statement. “These masks did not meet the safety standards outlined by the CDC, which puts the public at risk, jeopardizing the health and well being of everyone.”

Following testing, the shipment was turned over to Homeland Security for further investigation.

“Certain organizations are attempting to exploit the limited supply of and increased demand for some pharmaceuticals, personal protective equipment and other medical goods required to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic,” U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a news release.

“Among other products, these criminals are smuggling and selling counterfeit safety equipment, unapproved COVID-19 test kits, unproven medicines and substandard hygiene products through the online marketplace.”

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