Federal agents seize a package of disinfecting wipes

CINCINNATI—It's unfortunate, but the COVID-19 pandemic has generated its own brand of crime.

Take, for example, what happened in Cincinnati this week, where U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers seized a shipment of disinfecting wipes arriving from Canada and heading to a doctor in Barbados.

Nothing illegal about the wipes, in fact, they're in tremendous demand. It's what was inside the package that was the problem.

Officers held the package for inspection based on their experience, some suspicious x-rays, and a drug detector canine alerted to the parcel. Inside they found disinfecting wipe canisters and other cleaning products. However, inside those canisters and other packages was four pounds of marijuana.

“The dedication and vigilance of our officers at our express consignment facilities continues to prevent a substantial amount of drugs from reaching their destination,” said Richard Gillespie, Port Director, Cincinnati. “This is another excellent example of what U.S. Customs and Border Protection does each and every day.”

The Customs and Border Protection officers recently seized more than 4,600 phony COVID-19 test kits at the FedEx facility at Indianapolis International.