Codeine Opioid Syrup Seized By Customs Officials In Philadelphia

PHILADELPHIA — Federal authorities in Philadelphia last month seized a gallon of codeine syrup.

According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, the codeine was found in a shipment on June 13.

The shipment was manifested as "vegetable glycerin" and was headed to a Philadelphia address from the United Kingdom.

Customs officers opened the parcel and found six 17-ounce bottles labeled as vegetable glycerin.

The bottles contained a thick, syrupy liquid that field-tested positive for the properties of codeine, an opioid and schedule III controlled substance that requires a physician’s prescription in the United States.

Codeine has a high rate of abuse as a recreation drug, but one that poses potential health concerns.

Abusers mix codeine syrup with alcohol or non-alcoholic beverages into a concoction known on the street as purple drank, cough syrup, lean, or sizzurp.

The bottles and contents weighed four kilograms, or about one gallon. It was destined to an address in Philadelphia.

CBP officers seized the codeine syrup on June 15 and turned it over to special agents from Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) for further criminal investigation by the Border Enforcement Security Task Force that operates at the Philadelphia International Airport.

"Intercepting this illicit shipment of codeine syrup is further proof of Customs and Border Protection officers continued commitment to keeping our communities safe by diligently searching for illicit and dangerous products imported in international parcels," said Rene Ortega, Acting Area Port Director for CBP’s Area Port of Philadelphia.