News
Jury Trial Pushed Back Again In Case Against Alleged Counterfeit Pill Ring Leader
The trial of Aaron Shamo, the Utah man accused of running a major fentanyl pill manufacturing and distribution ring, has been pushed back until 2019. Almost two years ago, prosecutors were investigating 28 deaths potentially tied to this case, and now they have indicated they intend to file a superseding indictment which will include a “death-count” change…
[...]Discussing the Difficulty of the Import Problem
This distressing situation shows that deadly fentanyl analogues are killing Americans who are using laced non-opioid prescriptions.
[...]Grand Junction Man Arrested For Manufacturing Fake Xanax Pills In His Apartment
Richard Henry of Grand Junction, Colorado was arrested after law enforcement officers from multiple agencies found a pill press, hundreds each of fake Xanax and “small blue pills” made with fentanyl, and assortment of other powders in the closet of his apartment. This story is one of many recently in the news pointing to the fact that counterfeit fentanyl pills are a growing problem in western Colorado…
[...]Arizona Pair Arrested with 8,000 Fentanyl Pills Indicted by Grand Jury
An Arizona grand jury has handed down indictments for the two men arrested in May. Prosecutors allege that Octavio Gutierrez-Hernandez and Jorge Bazan were trafficking more than 2,000 fentanyl pills pressed with an “M30” imprint, which is what is typically stamped on oxycodone pills.
[...]Canadian Law Enforcement Veteran Urges Cross-Border Cooperation to Fight Fentanyl and Other Counterfeit Medicines
In this August 21, 2018 editorial for the Havre Daily News Canada Border Services Agency and the Ontario Provincial Police veteran Don Bell talks about the need for Canada and the United States to work together to combat counterfeit drugs.
[...]Fake Cancer Drugs Were Just Some Of The Fake Pills Drug Organization Said They Could Make
The U.S. Department of Justice unsealed a 43-count indictment against Fujing Zheng and Guanghua Zheng of Shanghai, China for operating a company that illegally imported drugs – including fentanyl – into the U.S. When asked by undercover law enforcement if the Zhengs could manufacture counterfeit pills, including oxycodone, Adderall, and two cancer medicines – Tarceva and Afinitor – each time the Zhengs said they could…
[...]National Sheriffs’ Association Sends Letter of Concern About Importation of Prescription Drugs
On August 8, 2018, the National Sheriffs’ Association wrote the President to oppose prescription drug importation. Importing drugs from other countries, they say, “jeopardizes law enforcement’s ability to protect the public health and endangers the safety of law enforcement and other first responders.”
[...]More Warning Letters Sent By FDA to Websites Selling Illicit Opioids Online
For the second time since May, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced issuing warning letters to online network operations that were marketing illicit opioids to American citizens. In this most recent group, four companies operating a total of 21 websites were told they needed stop selling those pills. The number of websites to receive warnings this summer is over 70…
[...]Four Men Arrested In Georgia While Attempting To Move Counterfeit Pill Operation
Deputies from the Walton County Georgia Sheriff’s Office disrupted four men attempting to move their counterfeit pill operation into their county. Austin Marshall, Jakob Sullins, Nicholas Felker, and Timothy Ballard were arrested before they even had the chance to unload their pill press that was capable of making 16,000 pills in one hour…
[...]PSM Executive Director and Carrie Luther in Tennessee to share the story of deadly fentanyl pills
Carrie Luther, who lost her son to counterfeit Xanax made with fentanyl three years ago, travelled to Tennessee with Partnership for Safe Medicines Executive Director Shabbir Safdar to share her story with the Healthy Tennessee Opioid Summit.
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