Counterfeiters in Nigeria and America receive heavy punishment

Over the course of this calendar year, there has been an endless number of cases to emerge that involve the production and distribution of counterfeit medicines, and these are only the ones that authorities have managed to successfully shut down. There are illegal operations still active all across the globe, with criminals always trying to conjure up new methods of tricking the public into purchasing these dangerous medicines. However, their activities cannot and will not last forever, with Medical Specialists Pharmacy and many other organisations around the world determined to bring them to justice.

Therefore it brings us with great delight to report of two such instances to occur in the last few weeks of criminals finding their comeuppance. The first happened just 11 days ago in Nigeria and surprisingly did not involve erectile dysfunction medications, which seems to be a common type of counterfeited drug. Instead it was antimalarials such as Malarone and Paludrine that had found themselves being the source of imitation.

After receiving knowledge about the existence of the fake drugs, officers from The Nigerian National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) swooped onto a market within the south-eastern city of Enugu. After the raid, authorities had amassed a haul of $15,000 worth of fake pharmaceuticals, which could have proved fatal if sold to the unsuspecting public of Nigeria. Fake drugs are often manufactured in dirty, unhygienic warehouses and sometimes can contain little or no of the genuine active ingredient, or remarkably harmful industrial compounds.

Udekpo Ekpo, acting head, south-east zone at NAFDAC, spoke of the capture of the drugs and said, “This exercise was actually necessitated by reports that there are some fake brands of antimalarial drugs in the market. Some of them are in the market without NAFDAC registration number.”

Just one week after this bust in Nigeria, 40 year old Gregory Bochter found out the hard way that dealing with counterfeit drugs does not pay. Bochter, of Volusia County, Florida, initially submitted a guilty plea back in May to the trafficking of the two popular counterfeit erectile dysfunction medications, Viagra and Cialis.

He had obtained the fake pills from China, one of the world’s biggest exporters of counterfeit drugs. Homeland Security investigators had managed to intervene and apprehend one of his shipments and discovered in excess of 1,300 prescription pills. The pills only comprised of just 30% of their active ingredient, thus meaning they would probably be ineffective to any unsuspecting men who bought them.

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials claim that even after they had seized Bochter’s delivery of fake pills, he then brazenly continued to be involved in more illegal trafficking for another two months. Unfortunately for him, he has now been sentenced to eight months behind bars and is being forced to cough up a hefty $150,000 in restitution fees.  If this wasn’t bad enough for, Bochter faces three years of supervised release upon his return to society in 2020.

£117 million of fake drugs are seized during police raids

A country-wide operation in China that involved approximately 18,000 police officers has culminated in the arrest of almost 2,000 people and the seizing of an incredible 1.16bn Yuan ($182m; £117m) of fake medicines in just the past month alone. The arrests were made in an attempt to clean up a country which is widely known for its high volume of bogus products, including a very prosperous nationwide counterfeit drugs market.

As well as millions of dollars’ worth of fake drugs being seized, the police raids in China resulted in the destruction of about 1,100 production facilities according to the Chinese public security minister who spoke yesterday, and confirmed that the arrests actually occurred last month.

The released statement said that some of the counterfeit drugs officials had seized included convincing look-a-likes that were apparently to treat a wide range of conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, skin problems, cancer and rabies. In an attempt to pass the dangerous drugs off as ‘genuine’, the crafty criminals went to extreme measures such as paying to advertise the goods on the internet, newspapers and on television. It has been reported that some of the problems the fakes had caused included serious issues such as heart failure, liver damage and kidney damage.

China is one of the globe’s biggest producers of fake medicines and authorities now need to devise new ways to stop the problem for good. Medical Specialists Pharmacy are strong campaigners for the introduction of much tougher legislation for anybody found guilty of dealing with counterfeit medicines. After all, it is people’s lives at stake when ingesting potentially toxic chemicals that have been poorly produced in a dirty, unhygienic warehouse.

For instance, back in 2008 Chinese drug makers used contaminated ingredients to produce the blood thinning medication ‘Heparin’, resulting in the tragic death of 80 people and many hundreds more in the US had allergic reactions due to the harmful batch. This happened as worryingly some of the goods had been exported overseas. Indeed, from the statement released yesterday, it was uncertain if last month’s apprehended haul were actually meant for Chinese use or distribution to overseas countries.

The ministry are understandably pleased with the latest arrests, with there now being fewer products flooding the market and putting patients lives at risk. However, they have urged for some caution and said, “The crime of making drugs is still far from eradicated, and criminals are coming up with new schemes, becoming craftier and better able to deceive it.” They have further advised everybody to only purchase and obtain their medications from reputable pharmacies and hospitals. Some important things to be aware of, especially when browsing through different websites online, include:

. Long delivery times, sometimes up to several weeks. This is due to the drug being imported from a foreign country before it gets to you.
 . For erectile dysfunction medication, phony website could state ‘generic Viagra’ or ‘generic sildenafil citrate’. There is no such thing as generic Viagra!
. The price of the medication is a lot cheaper than usual, sometimes by as much as 70%.
. The website does not list any contact details, e.g. a telephone and fax number, company address, pharmacists, doctors, etc.
. A registered Pharmacy such as Medical Specialists Pharmacy will have the GPhC green cross logo together with its Pharmacy number. This number can be checked to see if it does actually exist.
. The company registration and VAT number should both be clearly stated on the website. Both of these are a legal requirement.

Counterfeit Viagra found during routine checks of Chinese adult stores

A random spot-check  of local adult shops in China by Food and Drug Administration (FDA) inspectors, has uncovered many pills that were being marketed and sold as genuine Viagra tablets. Working together with the public security bureau of Nanjing’s Qixia district, the FDA inspectors decided to carry out a late-night sudden check of stores that were selling sexual health products. The inspections took place on May 23 and June 6 and 7.

It was found that there are almost 30 adult stores in the Oixia district and that many of these are unlicensed. In some of the places where the fake Viagra was found, investigators found some pills that looked so authentic that even they could not distinguish them from the real thing.

The pills were only confirmed as counterfeits on July 4, after they had been sent over for further analysis to the drug’s manufacturer Pfizer. Deputy Director of the administration, Huang Da, noted that investigators had discovered Viagra-like products with English-only text on the packaging and that Pfizer has never sold any such Viagra within China. He commented, “Therefore, Viagra with English-only packaging in Nanjing must be fake.”

An undercover reporter for a Chinese newspaper actually visited a few of the adult stores and saw that ‘Viagra’ was being sold at hugely varying prices, which is immediately suspicious. It is thought that the stores can purchase tablets from ‘middlemen’ for as little as one Yuan (US$0.16) per tablet, and then sell them on to the public for around 100 Yuan (US$16).

One owner of an adult store told the undercover reporter, “the higher the price, the better the effect”. The same owner also gave shoddy guarantees of the safety of pills saying that he had been selling them for many years and had yet to receive a customer complaint.

Of course, the owner would obviously say this in an attempt to receive custom. It is highly unlikely that if somebody did complain (which is likely), he would easily surrender this information and risk a potential sale in a town that is already flooded with other fakes and where it is incredibly easy to buy Viagra that is ‘the real thing’, or so one might think.

Surely guarantees of safety and peace of mind come from obtaining genuine erectile dysfunction medication such as Pfizer’s Viagra from somewhere reputable such as Medical Specialists. We are fully registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and also a member of the National Pharmacy Association (NPA). Our team of Doctors are registered with the General Medical Council (GMC) and our Pharmacists are registered with the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB).

Viagra and other medications for male impotence such as Cialis or Levitra are obtainable with or without a prescription. If you do not have a prescription, you can undergo a private and confidential online consultation with one of our Doctors and if suitable, they will write you a prescription. This is passed to our in-house Pharmacists, and dispensed and dispatched to you at your home, your place of work, or where ever you choose, discreetly within 24 hours.

Bird flu strikes again with more deaths

It has emerged this week that two devastating strains of flu have broken out across the globe causing massive chaos. Yesterday health officials confirmed that the deadly H1N1 strain of the influenza A virus had caused the deaths of 11 people in Bolivia and infected an additional 873 people. This particular strain first came to global prominence in 2009 as it was the main component of what became known as ‘swine flu’ to many people. This is human, bird and swine flu viruses joined together with a Eurasian pig flu virus. This year it was revealed that staggering 579,000 people may have succumbed to the disease in the last three years, as only those fatalities confirmed by laboratory testing were included in original data.

The latest H1N1 epidemic although very serious, has not yet increased to that of a national crisis. Johnny Rada, director of the ministry of health’s epidemiology service, spoke out to try and restore some degree of calmness. He said, “At the national level, the situation is under control. The most affected area is in the west.” Rada’s comments are backed up by figures that show 606 of the cases emanating from the western department of La Paz, with the next highest department being the eastern area of Santa Cruz, where 167 cases have so far been reported. Bolivia’s Deputy Health Minister Martin Maturano, advised people to stay safe by eating well and making sure to regularly wash hands. It appears that those affected by this outbreak are the groups of people who are usually most at risk of catching the disease and include; the elderly, young children, those who have had a previous illness and have a general weak system and anybody with problems such as diabetes or hypertension. Authorities have yet to confirm if the virus came into human contact from pigs or birds.

Across the world in China however, authorities have already pinpointed the outbreak of flu seen there is definitely the H5N1 avian virus. Like H1N1, this is a subtype of the Influenza A virus and is more commonly referred to as ‘bird flu’ or ‘avian influenza’. Though it is considered an avian virus, there have been some instances of a human to human transmitting of the virus.

The Chinese agriculture ministry have confirmed that the H5N1 strain of avian flu has thus far claimed the lives of 1,600 chickens and a further 5,500 have been left suffering from it. Authorities have acted quickly and culled 156,439 chickens to stop the disease spreading further. It is rumoured that the outbreak began on a farm operated by the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, whom some describe as a ‘semi-military government organisation’ consisting of two and a half million people. The epidemic follows the April outbreak in the Ningxia region of China, which saw 95,000 chickens fall victim to the disease. Also only last month it was reported that a young boy in Hong Kong had been diagnosed with bird flu.

There is currently no definite cure for either of the two strains of flu mentioned above. However it is widely acknowledged that oseltamivir (marketed by Roche as Tamiflu), effectively helps to prevent the influenza virus from spreading inside the body. The medication has even been at the core of many governments and organisation’s efforts previously when anticipating a potential H5N1 pandemic. It is available through Medical Specialists Pharmacy from as little as £21.98 per pack as we have dramatically lowered the price of Tamiflu recently to help out new and existing patients during this difficult recession.

China selling “ground up aborted foetus” Viagra pills claims Korean TV documentary

If true, China’s craziness with illegal aphrodisiacs has hit and all time low. A South Korean television company has recently reported in a documentary, that China has been using ground up aborted foetuses and selling them as Viagra style aphrodisiacs pills. 

In the documentary the pills called “man pills” claimed aphrodisiacs from China had contents with turned out to be 99.7% human. The Ministry of Health here was so mortified that they’ve actually called for an investigation. South Korea’s SBS TV aired a documentary on August 6 says Geekosystem.

The documentary also reportedly uncovered the process by which the aborted foetus pills are manufactured. Supposedly, the medicine companies store the dead babies in a “normal family’s refrigerator,” so as to be undiscoverable, and when they are ready to use the dead baby, they put it into a medical drying microwave. Once dry, they grind the dead baby up and put the powder into a pill capsule.

These pills are then packaged up in Northern China and transferred over the border to South Korea. According to China Daily, however, the Ministry of Health is investigating this issue to see if these pills actually exist. Deng Haihua, spokesman of the ministry, said on Tuesday that the ministry has instructed its provincial agency in Jilin to look into the case. Deng said China has strict management of disposal of infant and foetal remains as well as placentas. “Any practice that handles the remains as medical waste is strictly prohibited,” Deng said.

According to the country’s regulations, medical institutions and their staff are prohibited from trading corpses.

Customs in Germany have seized a record loot of drugs designed for illegal doping in sport

Customs in Germany have seized a record loot of drugs designed for illegal doping in sport, German media report. Anabolic steroids were among the drugs worth millions of pounds, found in a warehouse at Nidda-Wallernhausen, in the central German state of Hessen.ARD television said the many ampoules and tablets had come from illegal labs in Europe, India, Pakistan and China.

Dozens of suspects were questioned in Germany and Austria. One person is under arrest in Hessen, a spokesman for the state prosecutor's office in Giessen said. Viagra and hormone pills were among the two tonnes of drugs seized in Hessen, spokesman Jochen Fabrizius told the BBC. The German trafficking ring had posted drugs internationally to customers who used mail-order websites, investigators say. "The investigation is continuing.

The drugs were targeted at bodybuilders," Mr Fabrizius said, adding that the trade had probably been going on since 2007. The Spiegel news website says there are suspicions that some top athletes were also ordering the drugs. The raw chemicals for the drugs are believed to have come from labs in India which used cheap labour.

Cialis sales double in China 2010 according to Eli Lilly

Calis Tablets

Eli Lilly manufactures of Cialis the erectile dysfunction drug for men, saw sales of Cialis in China doubled in 2010.

Such an aggressive expansion, according to Chen Jialin (transliterated), vice president for the Lilly China anti-infective agent and special drug sales division, is in part attributable to an enlarged retail distribution network. The US-based company said that both its Cialis sales representative and the hospitals and drugstores it covered more than doubled in the year.

The company, as a new comer in the retail segment, is learning to work with its retail partners in distribution in the world's most populous market, said Mr. Chen. China's (erectile dysfunction) ED treatment market is estimated to stand at CNY 8 billion at the moment.

The maker will need to beef up its brand reputation in the hospital and retail distribution channels to get a larger slice of the local market, pointed out a market observer.

Please click the following link for more information about erectile dysfunction and where to Buy Cialis Online 

Pharmacists caught selling fake Viagra

A group of pharmacists were caught selling fake Viagra pills imported from China, police said Monday. 

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency said 15 pharmacists were booked on suspicion of selling the fake pills that could cause consumers to die of a heart attack in the worst case. 

Each pill was purchased for 2,000 won and resold to consumers for 15,000-18,000 won each, police added.                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                           

Experts called for a tough crackdown on the circulation of fake Viagra pills. 



Offenders without a prior criminal record face a fine of up to 5 million won or a business suspension for up to 15 days. 

CHINESE COUNTERFEIT DRUG DISTRIBUTOR SENTENCED TO PRISON

A man from China was sentenced on Monday to 12 months and a day in prison for conspiring to distribute counterfeit pharmaceuticals, and trafficking in pharmaceuticals with false labeling and counterfeit trademarks. The sentence was announced by U.S. Attorney José Angel Moreno, Southern District of Texas. The investigation was conducted by agents with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Office of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), and the Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations.

Kum Leung Chow, aka Lawrence Chow, 59, pleaded guilty to the federal charges on June 28 and sentenced on Monday to 12 months in prison by U.S. District Judge Kenneth M. Hoyt. Chow was arrested on Jan. 27 and has been in federal custody since that date and will remain in custody to serve out his sentence. Chow is subject to deportation after he completes his sentence.
The ICE HSI investigation began in January 2009 and revealed that Chow used a Hong Kong-based company named Kingdom International Enterprises LTD to obtain and distribute counterfeit Viagra and Cialis pharmaceutical drugs in the United States. Viagra and Cialis are prescription drugs that are FDA-approved and used to treat erectile dysfunction. They are registered trademarks on the principal register in the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office. Viagra is manufactured and distributed exclusively by Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, while Cialis is manufactured and distributed exclusively by Eli Lilly.
Chow offered boxes containing four Viagra tablets and boxes containing eight Cialis tablets for $10 a box on two Internet websites. The retail cost for each Viagra tablet is about $20, while each Cialis tablet is about $15.20. Working in an undercover capacity, ICE agents purchased about 1,120 Viagra tablets and about 360 Cialis tablets from Chow via the Internet on March 25, 2009, and April 28, 2009. Shipping documents accompanying the pharmaceuticals indicated they were exported from mainland China and Hong Kong.
The pharmaceuticals were later analyzed by the trademark holders and the FDA Forensic Chemistry Center which indicated the pharmaceuticals were counterfeit. These counterfeit pharmaceutical products may have harmed the public if law enforcement were not involved in monitoring the Internet.
Chow has been in federal custody since he was arrested Jan. 27; he will remain in custody to serve out his sentence.
Assistant U.S. Attorney Samuel Louis, Southern District of Texas, prosecuted the case.

Source: http://www.thecypresstimes.com/article/News/National_News/CHINESE_COUNTERFEIT_DRUG_DISTRIBUTOR_SENTENCED_TO_PRISON/36351

Gold medal paralympic curler sold illegal pills for erectile-dysfunction

Earlier this year James Armstrong & Gregory Armstrong were arrested on suspicion of supplying illegal counterfeit erectile dysfunction medication Cialis. The pair have now pleaded guilty to a US district court and could face up to three years in prison for the charge of selling and dispensing counterfeit drugs with the intent to mislead or defraud.

Customs and Border Protection agents in Los Angeles intercepted a package sent from China with 2,544 fake Viagra pills and 260 counterfeit Cialis pills.

The package was addressed to a mailbox in Blaine, Wash., used by both men. James Armstrong was arrested on April 15 outside the mailbox store. Greg Armstrong admits in his plea agreement that he distributed the drugs.

Counterfeit Viagra market in the rise

The amount of counterfeit impotence medicine smuggled here has grown 23-fold during the past five years.

The National Tax Service detected in January-July this year 18 cases of smuggled impotence medicine worth 90.6 billion won ($77 million) in total, according to the data it submitted to Rep. Lee Ae-joo of the ruling Grand National Party.

The amount is a 23-fold jump from the 3.8 billion won back in 2005 and is expected to rise further by the end of the year.

The amount of counterfeit medical substances smuggled to the local market in January-July reached 90.8 billion won, among which over 99 percent was impotence cures such as Viagra and Levitra, according to officials.

The majority of the detected fake medicine was manufactured in China.

The imitation impotence pills either included an illegal overdose of active ingredients or toxic substances such as mercury or lead.

“The NTS detects the smuggled medicine by randomly inspecting some 10 percent of the imported cargo,” said Rep. Lee, a member of the parliamentary health, welfare and family affairs committee.

“The actual amount of illicitly circulated medicine is expected to be much higher.”

Recently, importance cures have been circulated in bulk in local black markets, according to the police.

The Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency’s international crime department arrested an ethnic Korean man from China for smuggling and circulating fake Viagra and Cialis, said officials Tuesday.

The smuggler packed 270,000 pills, worth 4.2 billion won in total, in a cargo container and sent them to Korea through the international delivery service.

The fake pills were not only ineffective in curing men’s sexual impotence but often caused medical side effects.

Customers were easily fooled by the smuggled pills as they displayed the exact same visual packaging as the original.

Under the present law, impotence cure pills may only be purchased in pharmacies with a medical doctor’s prescription, but the potential takers are easily attracted to the black market out of shyness to discuss the issue openly, said officials.