The load, which was filled with loose hair of various brands and other hair products, weighed almost 12 tons, the US customs authority CBP writes in a press release.

"The production of these goods constitutes a very serious violation of human rights," says customs officer Brenda Smith.

Suspects child and forced labor

About one million Uighurs and other minority groups are believed to be held in prison-like detention camps in Xinjiang. In these camps, mainly Muslim minority groups, they are forced to learn loyalty to the central government in Beijing.

China has previously rejected the allegations of human rights violations.

Suspicions of child labor

It is unclear whether the US Customs suspects whether the hair is from adults and children who are in these camps or if the hair has only been produced there, the BBC writes.

The US suspects that the company behind the production used both child labor and forced labor.

China has called the charges of forced labor false and malicious, reports Reuters.