PHILADELPHIA, PA — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers have intercepted a shipment of potentially hazardous tianeptine, commonly known as “gas station heroin,” at an international consignment facility in South Jersey. The discovery, made on December 4, was part of an ongoing effort to prevent harmful substances from entering the United States. The shipment was destined for an address in Edgewater, New Jersey.
CBP officers conducted inspections of two parcels that had arrived from Hong Kong, one on November 25 and the other on December 2. Both were falsely declared as containing “deep groove ball bearings.” Instead, officers found a total of ten bags filled with a white powdery substance concealed within the parcels. Testing using advanced isotope analysis tools identified the substance as tianeptine sodium salt. The total weight of the seized tianeptine stood at 10.22 kilograms, equivalent to nearly 23 pounds.
Tianeptine is classified as an atypical tricyclic antidepressant and is marketed in several countries outside of the United States for conditions including anxiety, depression, and irritable bowel syndrome. However, it is not approved for any medical use by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Despite this, the drug has been widely available through online platforms and in various retail outlets, including gas stations and convenience stores, where it is marketed as a dietary supplement. The FDA maintains that tianeptine does not meet the definition of a dietary ingredient and warns the compound poses severe health risks when misused.
Known colloquially as “gas station heroin,” tianeptine is prized for its opioid-like effects, which can lead to dependency. It has been found in various forms by law enforcement, including bulk powder, counterfeit pills imitating controlled pain medications like hydrocodone and oxycodone, and individual stamp bags typically used for heroin distribution. The DEA has documented clusters of poisoning cases linked to tianeptine and underscores its potential to cause life-threatening health complications.
New Jersey, the destination state of the intercepted parcels, has previously issued a health alert regarding the dangers of tianeptine usage. Authorities have cautioned residents about its misuse, warning that it may result in severe complications and, in some cases, fatal outcomes.
Cleatus Hunt, Area Port Director for the Area Port of Philadelphia, highlighted the broader challenges posed by synthetic drugs in today’s global marketplace. “The exponential growth of the global marketplace has allowed nefarious opportunists an abundantly accessible supply of synthetic opioid and cannabinoid compounds that they then mix with other dangerous substances to create a potent and potentially deadly drug of abuse,” Hunt explained. “Customs and Border Protection officers remain committed to working with our Food and Drug Administration partners to keep dangerous synthetic compounds out of the hands of criminal organizations by intercepting it at our nation’s borders when we encounter it.”
This seizure represents a significant step in CBP’s mission to combat the entry of illegal and potentially deadly substances into the country. By intercepting such shipments at entry points, authorities aim to shield the public from the profound risks associated with unregulated and dangerous chemical compounds like tianeptine.
Authorities urge the public to exercise caution when purchasing substances marketed as dietary supplements and to remain aware of the potential hazards posed by unapproved drugs.
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