Photo: U.S. Customs and Border Protection
This stack of seized Viagra pills could cumulatively cause erections for months.
It's time to come clean, Cincinnati.
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers have seized huge loads of illegal Viagra, Cialis and Levitra coming through the Port of Cincinnati within shipments of authorized drugs since the beginning of January, a Feb. 2 press release says.
Viagra, Cialis and Levitra are all brand names of oral medications that treat erectile dysfunction. Once ingested, the pills cause erections that can last anywhere from four hours to 36 hours, depending on the brand.
Federal officials say that regular shipments of vitamins, supplements and — for some reason — watches were engorged with the illegally imported medications. Throughout January, the feds sucked up more than 32,500 Viagra, Cialis and Levitra pills along with 1,050 packets of jellies containing "miracle honey," which features Viagra's active ingredient of sildenafil.
Officials say the large, illegal packages originated in China, India, Malaysia or Sudan and were passing through Cincinnati on their way to Indiana, Kentucky and seven other states.
If legally sold, the seized drugs would have been worth about $757,000, officials say.
Medications that originate outside the United States are not necessarily regulated or safe, officials say.
"Consumers are purchasing these prescription medications from other countries thinking they are getting them at a discount, when in fact they are purchasing an inferior product with unregulated ingredients," LaFonda D. Sutton-Burke, director of field operations in Chicago, says in the release.
Were the medications intended for Valentine's Day usage? Officials don't say, but Cincinnati officers busted a similar shipment last February. There are stiff penalties for the crime.
Stay connected with CityBeat. Subscribe to our newsletters, and follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, Google News, Apple News and Reddit.
Send CityBeat a news or story tip or submit a calendar event.
