Back to Product Liability

Thousands of potentially dangerous boxes of Aqua Dots toys, already recalled by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, have been seized at the port of Savannah.

The thousands of cartons of Aqua Dots, shipped from China, were bound for U.S. stores according to Lynn Brennan from U.S. Customs and Border Protection. "It's a very significant find in that these type products create a lot of harm or potential for harm for children at this time of year with the Christmas holidays," Brennan, told us. "So, it was a good thing we got them off the market in time."

Brennan says eleven large overseas shipping containers have been seized in Savannah and Norfolk, the shipments arrived during the last few weeks. She says it is likely the shipments began before the recall of the Aqua Dots in the U.S. Of the 11 containers seized, 8 were confiscated in Savannah. Those large containers held 28,000 cartons of Aqua Dots.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled these items within recent weeks saying that the product was laced with a chemical, that when mixed with water, forms the date rape drug GHB.

Brennan says the products seized are worth about $2 million dollars. She also says that Savannah and Norfolk expect additional seizures. A news release says "this seizure demonstrates the commitment of U.S. Customers and Border Protection to assure product safety for the American consumer."

Reference:

"Aqua Dots seized in Savannah," wsav.com, JoAnn Merrigan, December 2007.