en.Wedoany.com Reported - The U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced that it will hold its second and final public auction on July 23, 2026, to dispose of approximately 12,000 tons of extruded aluminum profiles seized for fraudulent importation from the People's Republic of China. The materials have entered the auction phase after nearly a decade of federal investigation.
CBP has designated Amentum Holdings LLC of Chantilly, Virginia, and CWS Marketing Group of Manassas, Virginia, as sales agents to assist with the auction held in Riverside, California. The auction lot consists of over 12,000 tons of aluminum and more than 600 containers, primarily comprising high-grade 6000 series aluminum alloys, with a small portion of A356 alloy. Independent laboratory analysis confirms that the aluminum is suitable for recycling and remelting, and can be used in manufacturing for industries such as aerospace, construction, automotive, and transportation. Additionally, the containers themselves are included in the sale, each valued at up to several thousand dollars.
This auction represents the final batch of aluminum profiles seized by CBP in 2017. The investigation involves individuals or companies associated with China Zhongwang Holdings Ltd. According to a January 2017 report by The Wall Street Journal, CBP seized containers filled with finished or semi-finished aluminum products at the Port of Long Beach, California, valued at $25 million. The extruded aluminum at the time was made into pallets to circumvent U.S. tariffs on imported semi-finished and finished aluminum products.
The aluminum currently up for auction is stored at Amentum's facility in Riverside, including over 160,000 non-functional pallets housed in 623 containers and stacked outdoors. The auction will be held on-site in Riverside; those unable to attend can bid online through CWS Marketing Group, with participation limited to CBP-approved buyers. A refundable deposit of $100,000 is required to participate in the auction. Interested bidders must schedule an appointment in advance, which can be done online via the CWS website, with viewing dates on July 8, July 15, and July 22.
CBP stated that the controlled liquidation of federally seized materials helps responsibly manage assets while returning forfeiture proceeds to federal law enforcement and victim assistance programs. Recycling aluminum also offers environmental benefits, reducing energy consumption by approximately 95% compared to producing primary aluminum. CBP's first similar auction sold about 10,000 tons of aluminum, and this auction will offer the remaining inventory.
