MHRA Seizes Fake Drugs in England
MHRA Seizes Fake Drugs in England
What: The United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seized £500,000 in fake drugs in Middlesbrough, England. The drugs were counterfeit versions of erectile dysfunction, anxiety and weight loss medications.
When: March 26, 2009
Where: Middlesbrough, England
How: Reports from the Nursing Times indicate that the counterfeit drugs originated from China and were being delivered to “various addresses in the Middlesbrough area.”
Additional details:
The MHRA discovered £500,000 in counterfeit drugs via four early-morning drug raids on the morning of March 26. Four Chinese nationals, two men and two women, were arrested on suspicion of the sale and supply of counterfeit medications. Nursing Times reported on May 30 that the suspects were released on bail and will be questioned at a further date.
In response to the raid, MHRA officials said that they believed the counterfeit medicines originated from China and were being delivered to addresses in the Middlesbrough area. MHRA also said that the drugs would be submitted for forensic analysis “to determine their content and investigations will focus upon the onward distribution of these goods.”
PharmTech notes that in January 2009, GS1 UK, an independent organization aimed at developing sound supply chain standards, successfully completed the Pharma Traceability Pilot Program, a track-and-trace system for pharmaceutical products in a live, international supply chain, which followed the medications from the manufacturing process through their delivery at two locations in London.
Related Sources
“MHRA seizes suspected counterfeit weight loss and erectile dysfunction drugs,” Nursing Times. March 30, 2009.
“MHRA Cracks Down on Counterfeit Drugs, Seizes $500 Million Worth of Fake Meds,” PharmTech. April 2, 2009.
“GS1 UK Successfully Completes Traceability Pilot,” PharmTech. January 26, 2009.