While inspecting international express delivery parcels Tuesday, officers at the Port of Harrisburg seized a shipment of 1,200 Linhua Qingwen capsules that arrived from Hong Kong.
Agents seize shipment of unapproved coronavirus drug en route to Union County
-
The Associated Press
What you should know
» Coronavirus facts & FAQ
» Day-by-day look at coronavirus disease cases in Pa.
» Red, yellow, green: What to expect in each of Pa.’s tiers for reopening
(Baltimore) — Federal agents have seized a shipment of an unapproved coronavirus medicine at a port in Pennsylvania.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection said in a news release Monday that officers at the Port of Harrisburg seized a shipment of 1,200 Linhua Qingwen capsules from Hong Kong on Tuesday. The parcel was being shipped to an address in Union County, Pennsylvania.
Officials said the capsules are being used to treat some COVID-19 patients but that their effectiveness is unknown and they are not approved for use in the United States.
Officers working at ports within the Baltimore Field Office region have completed 18 seizures of counterfeit or unapproved COVID-19 equipment and medicines since March 23, authorities said. The seizures included nearly 2,500 pharmaceutical tablets and capsules, more than 1,350 test kits, and nearly 400 N95 respirator masks.