Archive for 2010
Scranton Theft: $100,000 of Prescription Medications
Three people have been hit with charges related to the burglary of a pharmacy in Susquehanna County, Pennsylvania, according to the Scranton Times-Tribune. Reddon’s Pharmacy was robbed on October 29 by Darryl Chaffee, 36, and Jerrod Decker, 24, who stole up to $100,000 worth of prescription medications. Chaffee and Decker have been charged with felony theft,…
[...]Malaysian Authorities Ban Unregulated Products Containing Controlled Substances
Malaysia’s Drug Control Agency (DCA) has banned the sale, possession, distribution and consumption of two unregulated traditional products found to contain controlled drugs, reports Malaysian national news agency Bernama. DCA analysis of the two products revealed the presence of regulated substances that may only be legally obtained with a prescription.
[...]Truck Full of Life Saving Medications Stolen in Kentucky
A truckload of pharmaceuticals was stolen from a rest area in Florence, Kentucky on November 11 with an estimated value of several million dollars. Securingpharma.com reports that the products included the antihypertensives, anticoagulants, aripiprazole for schizophrenia, HIV drugs and an antiplatelet medication. The plain white truck was left unattended for 15 minutes on the edge…
[...]WHO study: African Fake Drug Rates are Dangerously High
A new study conducted by the World Health Organization (WHO) and the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) has revealed that the prevalence of ineffective or counterfeit drugs is dangerously high in Africa, particularly in the western part of the continent. In particular, the study examined common medications used for the treatment of malaria and tuberculosis. The…
[...]Cyprus
Larnaca, Cyprus. Photo courtesy of Aapo Haapanen, via Flickr.
[...]Fake Cancer Drugs Smuggled into European Union
Police in four countries in Europe have conducted searches as part of an investigation of counterfeit cancer drugs allegedly being smuggled illegally into the European Union, according to the Cyprus Mail.
The simultaneous searches were orchestrated by the German Federal Police and were carried out by local agents in Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and Cyprus.
[...]Traynor K. Counterfeit drugs pose growing health threat. Am J Health Syst Pharm. 2010;67(22):1896, 1898.
Counterfeit and substandard medicines constitute a real and growing threat o public health, say federal officials and others who dal with the issue. "The problem is gettng worse each year. The counterfeiters are winning," said Jeffrey Gren, director of the Office of Health and Consumer Goods at the U.S. Department of Commerce. Counterfeit Drugs Pose…
[...]Drug Cargo Thefts Threaten Public Health
CBS Evening News reported that cargo thefts from trucks and warehouse are on the rise. In 2009, there were 864 reported cargo thefts, more than two per day, and frequency is projected to rise for 2010. The FDA is particularly concerned about prescription drug thefts, calling them “crime that threatens public health,” in a letter…
[...]Pakistani Court Denies Bail in Trial of Men Accused of Selling Counterfeit Drugs
The Sindh High Court (SHC) in Karachi, Pakistan, has rejected the bail application of two men who allegedly trafficked in counterfeit medications, according to the Daily Times. The SHC division bench consisting of Justice Gulzar Ahmad and Justuce Imam Bukhsh Balouch decided against issuing bail after hearing arguments from the prosecution against the two defendants, Muhammad…
[...]Ghana Workshop Warns of Environmental Dangers Related to Fake Drug Disposal
One of Ghana’s ministries recently held a workshop regarding the possibility of bodies of water being contaminated by counterfeit drugs. The Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology held the workshop, titled “Drugs and the Environment: The Development Country Perspective,” as part of the 10th Annual Meeting of the International Society of Pharmacovigilance (ISoP), according to…
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