Overseas Counterfeit Drug Supplier Pleads Guilty to Federal Charges
Robin Han, a citizen of New Zealand, faces up to 30 years in prison and possible $6 million fine after pleading guilty to counterfeit drug charges last month.
US attorneys from the Central District of California have successfully prosecuted Han on charges he was a large scale trafficker of counterfeit drugs in the United States. His indictment was originally filed in 2007, but he was a fugitive from justice until March 29th of this year, when he was taken into custody at San Francisco International airport, reports U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Han became a target of the federal probe in 2006, after US Customs and Border Protection officers intercepted a parcel containing counterfeit versions of erectile dysfunction medication. Subsequent investigation traced the shipment to Robin Han.
Han’s indictment stated that he offered counterfeit drugs for sale on several websites, including alibaba.com. Homeland Security Investigators made undercover purchases of more than $20,000 worth of counterfeit ED drugs via Han’s various web portals. Shipments were misidentified as plastic stationery holders and pen boxes.
Learn more about counterfeit drug cases in the United States and worldwide at the
Partnership for Safe Medicines Interchange on September 28, 2012. Register today!
"Trafficking in counterfeit prescription drugs of any kind represents a serious threat to public safety," said United States Attorney André Birotte Jr. "The Department of Justice will continue to work with all of its law enforcement partners at both the federal and local levels – to help secure federal convictions that should send a strong message to international counterfeiters like Mr. Han."
Han’s sentencing is set for October 4th in California.
Want to get a summary of global counterfeit drug news emailed to you every week? Sign up for our email list!
