Two Officers of Turkish Pharmaceutical Importer Sentenced in Counterfeit Cancer Medication Case
Two senior officers for the Turkish importer Ozay Pharmaceuticals have pleaded guilty in U.S. court and been sentenced for their role in supplying U.S. medical practices with counterfeit versions of the cancer medication Altzuan. Foreign Trade Director Ozkan Semizoglu has been sentenced to 27 months in prison, and owner and manager Sabahaddin Akman has been sentenced to 30 months in prison for their role in bringing counterfeit cancer medication into the United States. Ozay Pharmaceuticals was the source of the counterfeit Altzuan sold by Canada Drugs affiliate, Richards Pharma.
Who: United States Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, the United States Marshal’s Service, the Office of Inspector General for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Johnson County Crime Lab of Olathe, Kansas, and the United States Attorney’s Offices for the Eastern District of Missouri and the District of Puerto Rico.
When: January 16, 2014, 2012-2014.
Where: Saint Louis, Missouri
How: Investigation by FDA – Office of Criminal Investigations
Additional details: The medications that Ozay Pharmaceuticals sold were for the most part cold-chain drugs that required special temperature storage and handling. When the Altzuan Ozay shipped was tested, it was found to have no active ingredient, and was instead composed of water and mold.
Related sources:
“ Turkish Man Sentenced for Smuggling Adulterated and Misbranded Cancer Drugs , “FDA, January 23, 2015
“ Turkish Man Sentenced for Smuggling Counterfeit Cancer Drugs,”
DOJ Sentencing Press Release, October 28, 2014
“ Turkish Man Sentenced for Smuggling Counterfeit Cancer Drugs,” FDA, October 28, 2014
“ Second Turkish Man Pleads Guilty to Smuggling Fake Cancer Drugs,” Wall Street Journal, August 13, 2014
“Turkish Man Pleads Guilty To Smuggling Adulterated Cancer Drugs,”DOJ, August 12, 2014
“Turkish Man Pleads Guilty To Smuggling Counterfeit Cancer Drugs,” DOJ, July 22, 2014
“Second Turkish man sentenced for smuggling counterfeit cancer drugs,” FDA, January 23, 2014
“Ozay Pharmaceuticals Indictment,” DOJ, January 16, 2014
“Two Turkish Nationals Indicted for Smuggling Counterfeit Cancer Drug,” FDA, January 16, 2014
“English Citizen Sentenced for Distributing Adulterated and Counterfeit Cancer Drugs,” FDA, July 11, 2013