Officers working the Mariposa Port of Entry in Nogales, Arizona discovered pallets of a Chinese Covid cure scam, “Virus Shut Out” necklaces.
According to U.S. Customs and Border Protection, officers with a task force which included special agents with Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) under the Nogales Trade Enforcement Coordination Center (TECC), discovered three undeclared pallets of Chinese manufactured “Virus Shut Out” necklaces while examining a Mexico-bound tractor-trailer.
These necklaces resemble a lanyard with name tag, only in place of a nametag is a blue packet filled with chlorine dioxide to allegedly create an anti-bacterial cloud around the wearer, protecting them from COVID-19.
The shipment contained 30,000 devices, commingled within the merchandise which included clothing bearing counterfeit trademarks. Contents of the shipment were detained by CBP and HSI pending further research and investigation. The findings resulted in the seizure of the necklaces due to their infringement of federal pesticide laws, while the t-shirts were seized for trademark violations.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions, prolonged chlorine dioxide exposure may result in conditions varying from respiratory irritations, to severe breathing difficulty and chronic bronchitis.
CBP’s Pharmaceuticals Centers for Excellence and Expertise (CEE) appraised the domestic value of the Virus Shut Out necklaces at $479,700. The apparel, footwear & textile CEE appraised t-shirts domestic value at $24,200.