TEXAS / WASHINGTON – US Customs and Border Protection, Office of Field Operations (OFO) at the Hidalgo International Bridge intercepted $1,100,000 worth of alleged methamphetamine, on March 13, 2022; meanwhile effective March 14, 2022, US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) is detaining merchandise produced or manufactured by Li-Ning Sporting Goods at all US ports of entry. This enforcement action is the result of a CBP investigation indicating Li-Ning Sporting Goods uses North Korean labor in its supply chain.
One Million in Methamphetamine
“Our CBP officers used all of our available tools and resources to thwart this smuggling attempt and prevented these harmful narcotics from getting to American streets,” said Port Director Carlos Rodriguez, Hidalgo/Pharr/Anzalduas Port of Entry.
On March 13, 2022, CBP officers assigned to the Hidalgo International Bridge encountered a white Jeep SUV man making entry from Mexico. A CBP officer referred the vehicle for further inspection. After physically inspecting the vehicle, which included utilizing non-intrusive imaging (NII) equipment and screening by a (canine team), officers discovered nine packages of alleged methamphetamine weighing 79 pounds (35.88 kg) concealed within the vehicle.
CBP OFO seized the narcotics and vehicle, and the case remains under investigation by special agents with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Homeland Security Investigations (ICE-HSI).
Agency will detain merchandise from Li-Ning sporting goods made with North Korean labor
The Countering America’s Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) prohibits the entry of goods, wares, and articles mined, produced, or manufactured wholly or in party by North Korean nationals or North Korean citizens anywhere in the world, unless clear and convincing evidence is provided that such goods were not made with forced labor.
Pursuant to CAATSA, CBP will detain Li-Ning merchandise at all US ports of entry. Such merchandise will not be entitled to entry unless the importer provides clear and convincing evidence that their merchandise was not produced with convict labor, forced labor, or indentured labor under penal sanctions within 30 days of notice of detention. If the company fails to provide clear and convincing evidence within this timeframe the merchandise may be subject to seizure and forfeiture.
“CAATSA is yet another tool in CBP’s trade enforcement arsenal that allows us to uphold the fundamental value of human dignity and to ensure the goods that enter the United States are free from forced labor,” said CBP office of trade executive assistant commissioner, AnnMarie Highsmith.
