Border agents seize 900 diluted bleach bottles at Arizona-Mexico border
Apr 30, 2020, 3:30 PM
(U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Courtesy)
PHOENIX — With cleaning products growing in demand amid the coronavirus outbreak, border officials have seized hundreds of bottles of adulterated bleach at the Arizona-Mexico border.
Around 900 bottles of Clorox seized in Nogales in March and April were found to be significantly diluted with water, rendering the cleaning product ineffective.
“They were trying to import this as legitimate, fully functioning Clorox … and the disinfectant capabilities had been destroyed,” Scott Brown, special agent in charge for Homeland Security Investigations Phoenix, told KTAR News 92.3 FM.
Regardless of tampering, many household products made in Mexico are not meant for use in the U.S., Brown said.
After witnessing an increase of imported products due to coronavirus-related shortages, officials said in a press release that several U.S. businesses were importing the Clorox, toilet paper and other items from distributors in Mexico.
Along with the potential health risks of the false solution, Brown said the economic impact of businesses who bought and used these items could be absolutely devastating if establishments were labeled a hot spot for an outbreak.
Brown said no arrests have been made in relation to the Clorox investigation.
Fraudulent or prohibited coronavirus test kits, remedies and personal protective equipment have also been seized in Arizona, according to Brown.
KTAR News 92.3 FM’s Peter Samore contributed to this report.