U.S. Government Seeks Forfeiture of 9,000 Suits Containing Unsafe Lead Levels

Customs Officials Seized Shipment at Port of New York/Newark

The United States Attorney’s Office has filed a civil complaint seeking the forfeiture of more than 9,000 boys’ suits that were imported from China and found to contain unsafe levels of lead, Acting U.S. Attorney Vikas Khanna announced today.

According to the civil forfeiture complaint, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) seized the boys’ suits in March 2020 at the Port of New York/Newark. Testing conducted by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) determined that the buttons on the suits contained lead levels exceeding federal safety limits.

Repeated Violations by Importer

The complaint further alleges that Angels New York US, Inc., the importer responsible for the shipment, had previously attempted to import children’s clothing containing hazardous lead levels on at least two other occasions. Under federal law, lead exposure in children’s products is strictly regulated due to serious health risks, including neurological damage and developmental delays.

The investigation and enforcement action were credited to:

• U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Port of New York/Newark, under the direction of Port Director Jeffrey Greene, and
• The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Peter A. Laserna of the Bank Integrity, Money Laundering, and Recovery Unit.

At this stage, the allegations in the civil complaint remain accusations, and the legal process to forfeit and dispose of the contaminated clothing is ongoing.