Targeting counterfeit drugs

   The primary reason U.S. Customs established Centers of Excellence and Expertise in the fall of 2011 was to streamline the customs entry process for low-risk shippers in specific industries. A secondary benefit of concentrating import specialists by industry sector has been enhanced enforcement capability for stopping unlawful shipments because the CEEs have better understanding of normal shipping patterns and can identify transactions that don’t fit the norm.
   The CEEs are being created to smooth cargo entry for trusted shippers that have been pre-vetted for their strong security and compliance practices.
   Early last summer, American Shipper reported from Capitol Hill the first news that CBP was having success interdicting counterfeit drugs because the analytical capabilities of the New York import processing center focused on pharmaceuticals, health and chemicals. 
   CBP established the pharmaceutical CEE along with one for the electronics industry, now based in Los Angeles, as demonstration programs. Their success led to the opening a few months ago of an import processing hub in Detroit for the automotive and aerospace industries and one in Houston for the oil, gas and minerals sector.
   The Obama administration has made counterfeit drugs an enforcement priority because of their effects on public health and the business of legitimate drug makers.
   A recent CBP news release notes that the pharmaceutical CEE has helped coordinate seizures in Los Angeles and Chicago of fake Viagra, Cialis and Levitra tablets, injectable steroids, syringes and unknown prescription medications.