Investigations

On January 13, 2017, an information was filed in U.S. District Court, Florence, South Carolina, charging Atlas Importers with smuggling hazardous materials into the United States.

 

Atlas Importers allegedly imported several containers of fireworks into the United States, which were awaiting entry at the Port of Savannah, Garden City, Georgia. Inspection of these containers revealed illegal fireworks that were not manifested on the importation documentation and fireworks that did not have a valid approval on file with the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration (PHMSA). The containers were detained and subsequently seized by Custom and Border Protection (CBP) for importation violations. The information states that Atlas Importers had been smuggling fireworks since November 2013.

 

This investigation is being conducted with assistance from CBP.

 

Note: Indictments, informations, and criminal complaints are only accusations by the Government. All defendants are presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.