Customs and Border Protection Officers (CBP) in El Paso seized bottles of diluted Clorox and over-
the-counter medications on Wednesday, concealed in the back seat of a vehicle.

They ended up with 4,340 tablets of different meds and 30 bottles of diluted Clorox. The driver was a
United States citizen and he intended to sell everything. He was issued a $2,600 civil penalty with
further investigation being done.

About a week earlier, near the same area, the CBP seized a large shipment of toilet paper and
cleaning supplies. Testing of many of the cleaning supplies showed that the primary ingredient was
only water.

CBP El Paso Director of Field Operations Hector Mancha said, “In the current environment it is
reprehensible that someone would attempt a scheme like this to prey upon the concerns and fears of
our community, likely for financial gain. Our officers remain focused and attentive to all threats they
may encounter.”

Looks like smugglers, price-gougers and counterfeiters are busy trying to profit over the pandemic.
And it’s not just Americans. It’s going on everywhere. Hospitals in many countries are reporting
disappearing inventories of masks and hand sanitizer and criminals are “selling” nonexistent medical
supplies.

In early March, Matt Colvin and his brother Noah tried to profit off the Wuhan coronavirus scare by
buying up 17,700 of hand sanitizer in stores in Chattanooga, Tennessee. They drove around
Tennessee and Kentucky to buy as many as they could and were selling them for $70 per bottle
instead of $8 because people were desperate to get them.

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Unfortunately for the Colvin’s, Amazon and eBay shut down their little enterprise for price-gouging
and the rental company where he kept his purchases kicked him out. The wrath of the internet came
upon them and they ended up donating the bottles to people in need in Tennessee just as the
Tennessee attorney general was starting to investigate them for price gouging.

What’s next? Black market Cheetos, Twinkies and Ramen Noodles?