US uncovers refrigerant smuggling conspiracy

USA: Authorities in the USA have discovered a conspiracy to unlawfully remove customs seals and smuggle at least $200m of goods including bulk refrigerant. 

The conspiracy involved logistic company executives, warehouse owners and truck drivers, who smuggled hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of counterfeit and other illegal goods from China into the US via the Ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, California. 

The defendants took containers flagged for off-site secondary inspection, unloaded the contraband, then stuffed the targeted containers with filler cargo to deceive customs officials and evade law enforcement.

During the investigation, officers seized more than $130m in contraband, with the conspirators believed to be responsible for smuggling at least $200m worth of goods. 

According to the indictment, a June 2024 search of one warehouse used by the group led to the seizure of $20m worth of counterfeit items including shoes, perfume, luxury handbags, apparel, watches, in addition to the bulk refrigerant.

Daniel Acosta Hoffman, one of nine defendants allegedly involved in the conspiracy, was found guilty in October of conspiracy to unlawfully remove customs seals and to commit smuggling. He is scheduled to be sentenced at the end this month. 

R410A smuggled

In other recent cases reported by the Department of Justice, Jocelyn Castilleja was sentenced to a one-year term of probation and 25 hours of community service after pleading guilty to attempting to smuggle three 25lb cylinders of R410A from Mexico into the United States in her vehicle. 

Customs officers discovered the refrigerants during a routine inspection at the Brownsville, Texas, border crossing. Castilleja failed to declare the containers to customs authorities.

In a further case, a jury convicted Jorge Acuna of importing a single cylinder of banned HCFC refrigerant R22. Acuna, who is said to have held a Universal EPA certification allowing him to handle refrigerants, attempted to illegally import the cylinder from Mexico through the vehicle lane at the port of San Ysidro, San Diego.