Fake Meds Smuggling Debated in Dubai

Last year 73% of fake medicines seized at European borders were routed through the United Arab Emirates, says the European Commission.

Last year 73% of fake medicines seized at European borders were routed through the United Arab Emirates, says the European Commission.

The National, an Abu Dhabi English-language newspaper, reported that experts in Dubai met on December 13, 2010 to discuss the issues of smuggling and airport security in the UAE. It was the gateway for almost three-quarters of counterfeit medical products entering Europe, according to the Taxation and Customs Union of the European Commission. The number of fake drugs arriving via the UAE jumped from about 750,000 in 2008 to almost 5.5 million in 2009, reported the National.

Khalid al Bustani, acting Director General of the Federal Customs Authority, demurred, stating that the UAE has “well developed” infrastructure to combat the spread of counterfeit products, according to The National.

He acknowledged that the UAE did not have access to EU counterfeit data networks but that “we are planning to participate in these networks” to gain access to this data.
Mr al Bustani said that the statistics did not reflect the reality of the situation. “The UAE has a good track record and you can see that by the seizures reported here on a regular basis.”