Taiwan Arrests 168 Suspects on Counterfeit Medicine Charges

Coordinating more than 1,200 law enforcement agents, Taiwanese authorities raided 238 locations on September 23-24, 2011. In the raids, 168 suspects were apprehended on allegations of making and selling counterfeit medicine.

Taiwanese Police Conducted a Raid on Counterfeit Medicine Producers

Taiwan Police
by swat_hk via Flickr.

Coordinating more than 1,200 law enforcement agents, Taiwanese authorities raided 238 locations on September 23-24, 2011. In the raids, 168 suspects were apprehended on allegations of making and selling counterfeit medicine.

Taiwan’s High Prosecutors Office conducted sweeps that coordinated 15 different government agencies across the nation intended to crack down upon suspected counterfeit medicine manufacturing and distribution, reported the China Post.

Authorities confiscated large amounts of counterfeit medical products, as well as banned products. The counterfeits were labeled as legitimate products and sold at stores and on the internet. Products included counterfeit erectile dysfunction medication and banned weight-loss drugs, as well as other counterfeit medications and herbal remedies adulterated with illicit chemical substances.

The suspected counterfeiters used commercials at underground radio stations in central and southern parts of Taiwan, as well as the internet to market their goods, reported the China Post.

The suspected counterfeiters used commercials at underground radio stations in central and southern parts of Taiwan, as well as the internet to market their goods.

Some suspects have confessed to producing counterfeit medications containing banned chemicals ingredients imported from other countries “for years,” reported the China Post.

By S. Imber