MHRA Seizes £14 Million in Assets from Convicted UK Drug Counterfeiter
The United Kingdom’s Medicine & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has seized £14.4 million in assets from convicted counterfeit medicine dealer, Simon Martin Hickman. Hickman was sentenced to two years imprisonment in June 2009 following his conviction for both selling and supplying fake and unlicensed drugs,and money laundering. After an investigation of his assets, the MHRA was able to track down Hickman’s hidden funds.
Who: Medicine & Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (UK), North West Regional Asset Recovery Team (UK).
When: April 27, 2012; 2006-2009.
Where: London, Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea, United Kingdom.
How: Joint investigation by the MHRA and the North West Regional Asset Recovery Team.
Additional details:Hickman was jailed an additional 22 months in addition to his initial conviction for attempting to illegally obtain a passport and for selling property without court approval.
Related sources:
“Press release: MHRA makes its largest ever confiscation order of £14.4 million against fake medicines trader,” MHRA. April 27, 2012.
“Former bankrupt made millions by selling fake Viagra online.,” The Daily Mail. June 8, 2009.
“Manchester’s fake Viagra seller fraudster Simon Hickman ordered to pay £14 Million,” TNT Magazine. April 27, 2012.
“MHRA confiscates £14.4m in assets from UK counterfeiter,” Securing Pharma. April 30, 2012.