Feds seize nearly 60 tons of illegally imported Chinese honey

Special agents with the U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations in Chicago seized nearly 60 tons of illegally imported Chinese honey, valued at more than $200,000.

The 195 barrels of honey, which were seized April 28, were falsely declared as originating in Vietnam to evade taxes imposed on low-priced imported goods, according to a statement from ICE.

In March, a Midwest honey packer told HSI Chicago that lab reports provided to them appeared fraudulent, ICE said. HSI Chicago sent samples of the honey to a lab in Georgia, where it was determined that it had a 99 percent probability of originating in China.

ICE said they are investigating where in the supply chain the fraudulent lab reports originated.