see also: in March 2008:   Summer Months an Added Challenge for Border Patrol   Los Meses de Verano, un Reto Para la Patrulla Fronteriza   Border Patrol Agents Rescue 38 Illegal Aliens from Smuggling Attempt   Laredo North Station Border Patrol Agents Arrest MS-13 Member   Laredo Sector Border Patrol Agents Arrest 18th Street Gang Member   El Paso CBP Officers View HDTV: Hidden Drugs in TV Set   El Paso Border Patrol Agents Arrest Criminals with Extensive Records ...more on cbp.gov:   CBP News Releases   Press Officers

contacts for this news release

New York — U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers working at the Jersey City, N.J. bulk mail facility intercepted several shipments of Kinder chocolates that contained a surprise toy within a plastic capsule determined to be a risk for swallowing by youngsters.

The Kinder eggs are hollow milk chocolate eggs about the size of a large hen's egg in an orange, white and blue foil wrapper. The toy within the egg is contained in an oval-shaped plastic capsule. The toy requires assembly and each egg contains a different toy. The labeling is in German.

Alert CBP officers discovered an anomaly in mail shipments during inspections using non-intrusive X-ray machines. The shipments were opened for inspection and Kinder chocolate containing the toys were discovered. A total of seven seizures were made containing 71 packages of chocolate eggs. In addition to this seizure, CBP officers at the JFK Airport mail facility seized three additional shipments containing 50 eggs.

"The vigilance of our CBP officers at the mail facilities has prevented these potentially dangerous toys from ending up in children’s Easter baskets," said Leon Hayward, CBP acting director of field operations. "We will continue to keep our guard up to stop harmful products from entering the United States."

The Ferrero Group, the manufacturer of Kinder chocolate eggs, does not market this product in the United States. However, Ferrero does market the product in other countries solely for children three and older and designs these toys to be assembled by older children and considers the product safe for children three years and older.

CBP works in collaboration with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ensure the safety of goods coming into the country. CPSC and Ferrero are not aware of any injuries in the United States involving these toys.

U.S. Customs and Border Protection is the unified border agency within the Department of Homeland Security charged with the management, control and protection of our nation's borders at and between the official ports of entry. CBP is charged with keeping terrorists and terrorist weapons out of the country while enforcing hundreds of U.S. laws.