Federal authorities at the southern border in Arizona have seized about 900 bottles of diluted Clorox bleach being imported from Mexico.
Multiple shipments of the product, determined through preliminary testing to be ineffective, were intercepted by authorities in April at a border crossing in Nogales, according to US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Investigators with Homeland Security and US Customs Border Protection found that during the coronavirus pandemic several American businesses were importing Clorox, toilet paper and other materials from Mexico.
Federal authorities are working with the US Attorney’s Office to find out who tampered with the popular disinfectant.
“This investigation serves as a stark reminder that criminals will even exploit a global pandemic in their quest for illegal profit,” said Scott Brown, special agent in charge of HSI Phoenix.
“While ongoing, this investigation has been successful in keeping hundreds of bottles of cleaning products, rendered useless by illicit tampering, out of our homes and businesses.”