Pakistani Head of Counterfeit Drug Importer Extradited and Indicted in U.S. Court
Junaid Qadir of Karachi, Pakistan, was originally indicted in 2012. A superseding indictment was obtained June 25, 2015. He was arrested last spring after he traveled from Pakistan to Germany. Qadir fought extradition, but lost and appeared in federal court on Jan. 25, 2016. Qadir and his brother, Shehzad, who is not in custody, are principals of a family-owned business in Karachi known as JNS Impex. This company claimed to be a leading exporter of branded and generic pharmaceutical drugs and surgical products. JNS Impex made various false claims, such as: it could supply most brand-name pharmaceutical products; it was affiliated with many multinational pharmaceutical manufacturers; and that it was licensed to distribute and export over-the-counter, prescription and narcotic pharmaceutical drugs. At no time was this company associated or registered with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration to import controlled substances into the U.S. or to distribute controlled substances in the United States.
Who: HSI, FDA OCI, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service.
When: January 25, 2016, 2012 – 2015.
Where: Karachi, Pakistan, Denver, Colorado
How: Joint investigation by HSI, FDA OCI, and the U.S. Postal Inspection Service
Additional details: The defendants are alleged to have taken orders via the Internet primarily from individuals and entities operating fake online pharmacies. These pharmacies would then sell these drugs to their retail customers without requiring valid prescriptions. JNS Impex took orders for bulk drug shipments from pharmacy operations and for individual drop shipments directly to the customers of these pharmacy operations. A large portion of the orders taken in by the JNS Impex were for shipment to businesses and individuals located in the United States.
Related sources:
“Pakistani man charged with importing fake viagra to US appears in court,” Express Tribune, February 3, 2016
“Pakistani Man Makes Appearance in U.S. District Court in Denver Following Indictment and Arrest for Sale and Distribution of New, Misbranded and Counterfeit Prescription Drugs,”
FDA, February 1, 2016
“ Pakistani man indicted and arrested for selling and distributing new, misbranded and counterfeit prescription drugs ,” ICE Press Release, February 1, 2016
“ Pakistani man charged with importing fake narcotics, Viagra to US appears in Denver court,” Denver Post, February 1, 2016
“Junaid Qadir indictment ,” United States District Court for the District of Colorado, June 25, 2015