Customs Has Seized My International Mail Order Packet – What Can I Do?

Over the past few months, U.S. Customs has stepped-up seizures of private U.S. citizens’ personal medications that have been ordered through the mail from international sources, including Canada. This action appears to be specifically targeted at mail deliveries, since there has been no outcry from individuals who have physically crossed the borders.

Naturally, these seizures are a cause for concern for American patients, and they show a total lack of government consideration for U.S. citizens’ health. A primary and dangerous impact is delayed delivery of needed medications – particularly maintenance drugs and others requiring consistent, regular dosing for efficacy. A second negative impact is increased patient cost of obtaining intermediary supplies from local pharmacies, which process can also entail delays for physician action and obtaining new prescriptions.

Despite government’s claims to the contrary, the timing of these increased seizures suggests that their primary objective has been to force hesitant Medicare-eligibles to enroll in the government’s Medicare Drug Benefit plan.

Some informed and concerned legislators have expressed outrage about the U.S. government’s performing in this irresponsible fashion. If you want to contact your legislators about help in obtaining your seized drugs or just to express your opinion about these actions, you can access them at the following link: Congressman and/or Senator.

BE AWARE: Carefully check any orders you receive that have been opened by U.S. Customs agents. There have been reports that contents of opened packages may have been mixed with other patients’ orders and that literature from unrelated pharmacies has been included or substituted for the originals.