U.S. Marshals Seize 73,000 Kratom-Derived Products in Federal Enforcement Action

U.S. Marshals have seized approximately 73,000 units of products containing 7-hydroxymitragine, commonly referred to as 7-OH, in a coordinated enforcement operation with the Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). The seizure targeted inventory held at facilities operated by Shaman Botanicals LLC and Relax Relief Rejuvenate Trading LLC.

According to federal officials, the confiscated products contain 7-OH, an alkaloid derived from Kratom (Mitragyna speciosa), a tropical tree native to Southeast Asia. Authorities noted that while Kratom is frequently brewed into tea, the specific extracted alkaloid found in these products is the focus of the current regulatory action.

Assistant Attorney General Brett A. Shumate of the Justice Department’s Civil Division addressed the legality of the seized goods in a statement. "Products containing 7-OH (which are frequently brewed into tea) are illegal under federal law," Shumate said, confirming the government’s position on the distribution of these specific Kratom derivatives.

Regulatory Oversight

This large-scale seizure underscores the intensifying scrutiny federal regulators are applying to the Kratom industry, particularly regarding concentrated alkaloids like 7-hydroxymitragine. The involvement of the DOJ’s Civil Division alongside the FDA indicates a strategy focused on removing products deemed unapproved or unsafe from the commercial market through civil enforcement mechanisms rather than immediate criminal prosecution of individuals. This action sets a significant precedent for manufacturers and distributors of Kratom-derived supplements, signaling that federal agencies are actively enforcing the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act against specific compounds within the broader herbal supplement market.