Cleveland, OH

Thousands of Black Market Botox Injections Seized by Federal Agents in Ohio

Published

1 year ago

May 19, 2023

Thousands of Black Market Botox Injections Seized by Federal Agents in Ohio

U.S. Customs and Border Protection urges anyone who is interested in cosmetic injectables to seek out a licensed medical professional.

As the desire for fuller lips and younger-looking skin swells in the US, so does the black market for injectable products.

According to a news release from U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), two Cincinnati CBP officers seized thousands of unapproved cosmetic injectables such as Botox, Juvéderm, and more during the last week of April and first week of May.

The department said the shipments originated in Bulgaria, Spain, China, Hong Kong and Korea to be distributed throughout the United States. A single shipment of Botox from Hong Kong held 10 vials, or about 1,500 injections.

Cosmetic injectables are used to treat an array of health problems, but are most often used to treat aesthetic concerns such as smoothing wrinkles on the face and pumping up the size of a patient’s lips. A number of different injectable types were seized by CBP officers in Cincinnati, including:

Botox
Juvederm
Meditoxin
Radiessa
Dermalax
Neuramis
Restylane
Hutox
Sculptra

The value of all the seized injectable shipments would have had a combined value of $175,399, according to the release.

“Purchasing unapproved injectables, such as Botox, is a health and safety risk,” said Cincinnati Port director Richard Gillespie. “Cheaper is not always better, especially when it concerns your family’s health and welfare. The officers in Cincinnati diligently work to intercept illegal shipments and ensure safety to the American people.”

Assistant commissioner for import operations, Dan Solis, said the Food and Drug Administration is keeping a sharp eye on illegal injectables.

“The FDA is especially concerned about the illegal importation of injectable prescription medications, as these drugs may pose a significant risk to patients,” Solis said. “Like the drugs seized by our partners at CBP, there is no way to know whether these drugs were made under good manufacturing practice conditions, and sterility of these products are not always assured.”

The department urges anyone who is interested in cosmetic injectables to seek out a licensed medical professional who can assess the product and package quality and monitor patients for potential adverse effects. 

Originally published by CityBeat, Scene’s sister paper in Cincinnati.

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Cleveland, OH

Celebrate Latino Heritage Month with events in the community

Published

2 hours ago

September 27, 2024

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Celebrate Latino Heritage Month with events in the community

Latino Heritage Month is celebrated in the United States from September 15 to October 15. This month recognizes the unique and diverse cultures, histories, and contributions of those who have Latino and/or Hispanic heritage.

With celebrations across Cleveland and Northeast Ohio, here are a few events for Ohioans to support for Latino Heritage Month and beyond!

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Cleveland, OH

Man stabbed on Cleveland’s West Side

Published

10 hours ago

September 27, 2024

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CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) – A man was stabbed in Cleveland’s Detroit-Shoreway neighborhood Thursday.

The stabbing happened near West 73rd Street and Elton Court around 2:15 p.m.

The man was taken to MetroHealth Hospital in stable condition, according to Cleveland EMS.

19 News has reached out to Cleveland Police for more information.

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Cleveland, OH

Tickets on sale now for Tri-C Performing Arts’ 2024-2025 season

Published

20 hours ago

September 26, 2024

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Tickets on sale now for Tri-C Performing Arts’ 2024-2025 season

CLEVELAND, OH – The upcoming Cuyahoga Community College Performing Arts season will feature a wide array of jazz and dance performances from artists around the world.

Tickets are on sale for all six shows that will run from October 2024 through April 2025. Free parking is available in lot 5 for the shows taking place on Cuyahoga Community College’s (Tri-C) campus.

The 2024-2025 shows include:

Amina Figarova Sextet and the Matsiko World Orphan Choir

Oct. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Tri-C Metropolitan Campus Auditorium

Tickets: $35

Azerbaijani pianist and composer Amina Figarova and her sextet will be joined by the Matsiko World Orphan Choir, an ensemble of at-risk Liberian children.

Hélène Simoneau Danse (presented in partnership with DANCECleveland)

Nov. 9 at 7:30 p.m.

Mimi Ohio Theatre (Playhouse Square)

Tickets: $10 to $60 via Playhouse Square

The French-Canadian choreographer is coming to Cleveland for a performance that explores themes of identity, sexuality, romance and the world around us.

John Beasley’s MONK’estra

Nov. 16 at 7:30 p.m.

Tri-C Metropolitan Campus Auditorium

Tickets: $35

MONK’estra is a smashing big band that captures the spirit of Thelonious Monk’s singular music in fresh arrangements flavored with contemporary sounds, ranging from Afro-Cuban rhythms to hip-hop.

Matthew Whitaker

Feb. 8, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.

Simon and Rose Mandel Theatre

Tickets: $35

Matthew Whitaker started playing keyboard at age 3, and by 13, he became the youngest artist to be endorsed by Hammond in its 80-plus-year history. He studied at the Filomen M. D’Agostino Greenberg Music School in New York City, the only community music school for the blind and visually impaired in the U.S.

The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra, directed by Scotty Barnhart

March 26, 2025, at 7:30 p.m.

Tri-C Metropolitan Campus Auditorium

Tickets: $45 general admission, $75 premium seats

In its 90-year history, the Count Basie Orchestra has won 18 Grammy Awards, performed for kings, queens and other world royalty, appeared in several movies and television shows and played every major jazz festival and concert hall in the world.

Raphael Xavier: Skiff (presented in partnership with DANCECleveland)

April 12, 2025, at 7:30 p.m., and April 13, 2025, at 2 p.m.

Tri-C John P. Murphy Foundation Theatre

Tickets: $25 and $45 via DANCECleveland

Raphael Xavier will perform Skiff, an hour-long work features guest artists including some of Northeast Ohio’s own dancers. The unique piece explores the aging body, race, privilege and power while encouraging conversations of identity, legacy and lineage. The work is contextualized through the lens of Ernest Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea.

Tickets for all shows are on sale now. For more information, visit the Tri-C Performing Arts Series webpage or call 216-987-4444.

This story was written with the assistance of AI.

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