News Coverage

The Partnership for Safe Medicines has been publishing information about the counterfeit drug problem around the world for more than a decade. With experts leading the organization and a committed and passionate set of writers and editors, our content is more in-depth than many other sources, which simply copy links to the news from other websites.

Google Settlement A Positive First Step In Ensuring Safety of U.S. Drug Supply

August 25, 2011

Ten of the fifteen largest online advertising companies have no policy prohibiting unlicensed pharmacy ads The Partnership for Safe Medicines, a non-profit dedicated to curbing counterfeit drugs, today released the following statement regarding news Google will pay a $500 million fine for allowing illegal online pharmacies to advertise to U.S. consumers through its Adwords program:…

Equal Crimes, Unequal Times

August 25, 2011

Did you know? Criminals convicted of distributing counterfeit medicine to unsuspecting patients in need are often sentenced to only a fraction of the time traditional drug dealers serve. Counterfeit medicines can be extremely dangerous, even fatal, to unsuspecting patients. Authorities have seized counterfeit pills containing floor wax, brick dust and lead-based paint.

Hijacked Websites Give False Sense of Security for Online Pharmacy Clients

August 24, 2011

1/3 of every online search for prescription drug information is redirected to illicit online drug sellers. Legitimate websites are invaded by hackers who put code into the website that re-directs to a fake online pharmacy. Meanwhile, the legitimate website shows up in the search results, giving the potential customer comfort from a trustworthy brand, who…

International Business Times sheds light on connection between the gray market for medicines and fake online pharmacies

August 23, 2011

In a lengthy article touching upon two key recent reports on drug shortages in the U.S., the International Business Times points to the expanding presence of criminals looking to turn a profit at the expense of customers’ wallets and possibly patients’ safety.

Growing Concern for Counterfeit Drugs In Caribbean

August 23, 2011

The Caribbean Association of Pharmacists is raising the concern that counterfeit medicines are being trafficked throughout Latin America and the Caribbean. Reports CARIBARENA Antigua, Algernon Roberts, President of the Antigua Pharmaceutical Society says that counterfeit drug trafficking is treated more leniently and is easier to accomplish than illicit drug trafficking. “Trafficking in counterfeit drugs is…

8,000 Fake Pills Seized in Cincinnati

August 22, 2011

In a swell of 1,000 pounds of fake, illegal substances intercepted this year, U.S. Customs and Border Protection seized a package of counterfeit medicine containing 8,000 pills falsely identified as “harmless generic medicine.” Reports the Business Courier, officers inspected the package from India and found it contained counterfeit medication with the active ingredient tadalafil, which…

Stop Counterfeiters From Putting Children in Danger

August 19, 2011

The World Health Organization estimates that 50% of medicines sold over the internet from sites that conceal their physical ­address­ are counterfeit. Parents, these 10 tips will help you protect your children from these potentially dangerous products.

Doctor Uses Unapproved Drugs, Bilks Medicare

August 19, 2011

Isabella Martire, MD, of Laurel, MD, an oncologist, pleaded guilty to introducing an unapproved drug to interstate commerce on August 8th, 2011, after purchasing nearly 200,000 doses of medication meant for distribution in Turkey, and not approved for use in the United States. In 2010, federal agents began investigating an English pharmaceutical wholesaler that was…

Drug Shortages Opening the Door to Counterfeits in the US Warns Report

August 18, 2011

Drug shortages are driving desperate pharmacy managers to purchase from parallel importation sources that suspiciously have drugs that the manufacturers don’t – are they selling fake medication, stolen, or mishandled, or is it real? 360 drug shortages are predicted for 2011, reports Premier healthcare alliance, in a whitepaper dated August 2011, with the majority of…

Speakers Announced for 2011 Counterfeit Drug Conference

August 18, 2011

State Dept., FDA, and ICE Among Speakers at Oct. 27th Event Washington, D.C. (August 18, 2011) – The Partnership for Safe Medicines (PSM) today unveiled the initial speakers confirmed for this year’s annual Interchange conference. Among those confirmed to participate in the October 27th event are high level representatives from the U.S. Department of State, the…

Take the “Risky Proposition” Quiz: Learn how opening the US to foreign medicines could put American kids at increased risk

August 17, 2011

What percentage of U.S. children and teens are currently taking medicine on a regular basis? What is the most widely prescribed medicine for children? How many online pharmacies are in operation? How pervasive is the counterfeit medicine problem globally and why is the problem so much worse outside the U.S.? Parents, these answers may surprise you, and they could have implications for your own children. Counterfeit medicine is becoming increasingly prevalent around the world, and many criminals are using fake online pharmacies to distribute potentially dangerous products. Take the quiz and learn more.

Parents News Now highlights PSM’s “A Risky Proposition”

August 16, 2011

Parents News Now highlights PSM’s new report: “A Risky Proposition,” that examined how opening U.S. markets to drug importation could exacerbate the problem of fake online pharmacies selling counterfeit medicines to kids.

Carnegie Mellon: Web Hackers Profiting From Illegal Online Pharmacies

August 16, 2011

A new report from Carnegie Mellon University echoes the findings of the recent NABP report on online pharmacies. A growing number of illegal online pharmacies are flooding the Web trying to sell dangerous unauthorized prescriptions, according to a new report from cybersecurity experts at CMU.

Hard to believe, but true

August 15, 2011

It’s hard to believe, but in fact it’s true: counterfeit medicine has been found to include boric acid, highway paint, antifreeze and lead. Click here to check out our infographic on the dangers of online pharmacies and a recent report by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy.

Giant UK Fake Veterinary Pharmacy Shut Down: Impacts Food Supply Says Authorities

August 12, 2011

A British couple pleaded guilty to being the ringleaders in a black market prescription-only medicine business that imported veterinary medicine to Britain through illegal channels. Serving over 4,000 customers, the products were distributed to British farms, stables, kennels and vet surgeries. Concerns were raised over harmful residues in the food chain and unnecessary antibiotic resistance.

Counterfeiters Not Interested In Health of Children

August 11, 2011

“Counterfeiters do not take the patient’s age, weight, or development into consideration when selling fake or sub-standard forms. Moreover, they are not interested in whether the child is taking other medications or if the combination of them will result in an adverse reaction.”

Counterfeiting in the Global Market

August 9, 2011

Interpol and “The Dangers of Counterfeit Medical Products” states, “In some cases, fake medicines have been found to contain highly toxic substances such as rat poison.

Colorado veterinarian warns of counterfeit pet medicines sold online

August 9, 2011

A Colorado Springs veterinarian tells the story of a friend whose dogs became ill after she gave them heartworm prevention medicine she ordered online.

Fake Online Pharmacy Alert Makes the Case for a Closed Medicine Supply

August 9, 2011

By Dr. Marv Shepherd President, Partnership for Safe Medicines More than ever, American consumers are turning to the Internet to purchase goods at discounted rates. However, the online search for deals has taken a dangerous turn, as consumers look for cheap prescription medicines online at what appear to be legitimate pharmacies. Unfortunately, many people are…

Fake Online “Canadian” Pharmacy Sold Meds Through Trojan Software

August 9, 2011

A Trojan installed on victims computers, called Win32.Kelihos.b, is responsible for sending spam on behalf of a fake “Canadian pharmacy.” Computer researchers discovered that a group running a botnet used P2P to install this trojan on victims’ computers in order to lure them into purchasing rogue anti-spyware products, and then to send spam with subject…

Counterfeit and Stolen Medicine Found in Liberia’s Markets

August 8, 2011

Liberian researchers have found that more than 50% of antibiotic, antimalarial and pain relief medication are counterfeit or substandard. Liberia Medicines and Health Products Regulatory Authority officials collected 115 samples of common medications from public markets in Monrovia and tested them using the Global Pharma Health Fund’s Minilab. Some medications were found to have no…

Spammers sending fake Google+ invites

August 4, 2011

The UK’s Guardian reports on the latest tactic from spammers and counterfeiters to find a way into your inbox, this time by trying to capitalize on the fanfare around the launch of Google+.

Jordanian officials Seize 25,000 Packets of Counterfeit Antibiotic

August 4, 2011

The Jordan Food and Drug Administration (JFDA) seized 25,000 packets of a widely prescribed antibiotic that treats bacterial infections. The fake medicine was found in the trunk of a car parked on the side of the road. According to JFDA Director Mohammad Rawashdeh, the fake Zithromax was “unfit for human consumption.” Read the story by…

Bangkok police bust criminal ring operating fake pharmacies distributing counterfeit medicine

August 4, 2011

Bangkok police searched four drug stockrooms, two of which were operating as pharmacies, and discovered more than 200 varieties of fake medicines.

Tuberculosis Patient Safety Jeopardized by Counterfeit Antibiotics

August 4, 2011

Karachi police shut down a pharmaceuticals factory producing counterfeit antibiotics used for tuberculosis, confiscating fakes worth Rs20 million and arresting twelve people. The Vice Chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences contacted officials after suspecting the drugs to be counterfeit and experts determined the medication was “completely bogus,” said Dr. Iftikhar Ahmad, director of the…

White House Releases Plan to Combat Transnational Crime

August 3, 2011

The Obama administration’s has a new plan to crack down on transnational criminals who sell counterfeit goods, including fake medicines, which can be extremely dangerous.

Operation Apothecary Affirmed by ICE

August 3, 2011

The U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement, in conjunction with other US agencies, has reaffirmed the targeting  criminals selling unapproved, adulerated, or counterfeit medicine in the United States. Operation Apothecary, initiated in 2004, focuses on internet crime, specifically criminal use of the internet to purchase pharmaceuticals.   Says the ICE, “Criminals, posing as legitimate pharmaceutical providers,…

New Low Cost Anti-Counterfeit Medicine Device Patented

August 2, 2011

A New Jersey custom laser manufacturer,  PD-LD, has been awarded a US patent on a low-cost Raman monitoring device that can be used to detect counterfeit medicine. The device doesn't need the expensive components that other Raman spectrometers need, reports Securing Pharma.  Using low-cost lasers, similar to those in DVD drives, combined with laser-stabilizing technology,…

Fake online pharmacies can kill

August 1, 2011

“The people behind these rogue websites are people without a conscience. They’re simply murderers. They killed my friend […] They don’t think about what the consequences are, that somebody could end up sick, somebody could end up dead.”

Spam Sells Drugs From Fake Pharmacies and Infects Computers Too

August 1, 2011

78% of all email is spam, and of that 66% is fake pharmacy spam. But the danger isn’t a clogged inbox: it’s dangerous fake medicine and computers disabled by viruses. While more than 50% of all email is fake pharmacy spam, this is better than it used to be. Drug spam alone used to be…

Filling prescriptions, safely?

July 31, 2011

Doctors and pharmacists agree that the safest place to purchase medicine is from a brick-and-mortar pharmacy. However, if you are going to buy medicine online, it is important to verify that the online pharmacy is accredited by the National Association of Board of Pharmacists. NABP developed the VIPPS program to help consumers find sources for…

Only 59 of 8,353 Online Pharmacies Meet Proper Criteria

July 29, 2011

The percentage of “online pharmacies” deemed legitimate through the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy’s accreditation program is staggeringly low. Only 59 of 8,353 online pharmacies – or 0.7% – meet the criteria to be VIPPS-accredited. What are the risks associated with medicines ordered from non-accredited so-called pharmacy sites? Many fake online pharmacies offer foreign,…

44% of Online Pharmacies Sell Foreign or Non-FDA Approved Medicine

July 29, 2011

If you buy drugs through an “online pharmacy,” there’s a chance that the medicine you receive is not only lacking FDA approval, but actually fake, according to the latest report from NABP. The health and safety risks associated with these counterfeit and non-approved drugs are very real. Right now, this problem is primarily confined to…

Partnership for Safe Medicines Applauds Public Health Alert on Fake Online Pharmacies

July 28, 2011

Washington, D.C. (July 28, 2011) – Bryan A. Liang, MD, PhD, JD, vice president of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, a non-profit dedicated to curbing counterfeit drugs, today issued the following statement on the public health alert issued today by the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy regarding the widespread prevalence of fake online pharmacies.…

Public Health Alert! Over 3,600 Online Pharmacies Are Selling Non-FDA-Approved Medicine

July 28, 2011

In an effort to raise public awareness about the dangers of medicines purchased through fake pharmacies online, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) today issued a rare “public health alert.”

A new study by NABP found that 96 percent of 8,000 rogue websites analyzed continue to operate out of compliance with U.S. pharmacy laws, fuel prescription drug abuse, and provide an outlet for counterfeit medicines to enter the U.S. drug supply – all of which significantly endanger the health and safety of Americans. Most of these sites will sell without a valid prescription and 3,687 offer non-FDA-approved drugs. They could be selling dangerous counterfeit medicines that may contain toxic ingredients or not enough of the active ingredient to do what the medicine is supposed to do.

In the announcement of the alert, NABP warned, “The fake online pharmacy crisis has reached an epidemic level, they prey on prescription drug abusers and the most vulnerable members of society who rely on medicine every day for their health. They offer easy access to potent medicines without a prescription and indiscriminately push dangerous counterfeit drugs.

Arsenic and Floor Polish Found in Some Counterfeit Medicine

July 27, 2011

Did you know that some ingredients found in counterfeit medicines include arsenic, floor polish, nickel, and other potentially harmful elements? They are made to look real, but often are not anything like the real medicine. Learn more by clicking here. Do we really want these counterfeit meds crossing our borders and infecting our drug supply?…

Medicines in a new and different class – Biologics require their own regulation

July 26, 2011

Presidential candidate Barack Obama recently announced a plan to give $6 billion a year in tax credits to small businesses to encourage them to provide health insurance to employees. According to Reuters, Obama would pay for this by “making so-called ‘biologic’ drugs easier to bring to market in generic form.” Read the original article

EU Customs seized more than $1.4 billion in fake goods

July 26, 2011

A European Union annual report found customs officials last year seized more than 100 million pieces of fake goods, including counterfeit medicines, that had a street value of over $1.4 billion, much of it purchased on the internet.

Check out this unusual scene in China

July 26, 2011

A steamroller crushing thousands of boxes of prescription medicines. Why? Despite looking very real, these drugs are counterfeit and dangerous. Globally, the threat of fake medicine is very real.

Czech Police Find Hundreds of Thousands of Fake Pills

July 26, 2011

Czech police announced today that they busted an organized crime ring that had a factory that made “hundreds of thousands of [counterfeit] tablets.” The crime ring, composed of ex-athletes, body builders, fitness trainers and coaches, produced and sold counterfeit anabolic steroids and other hormone-based drugs, reports Czech Position. The police’s unit for combating organized crime,…

Friend Relives Details of Death from Medicine Purchased Online

July 25, 2011

Glenda Billerbeck, visiting for Christmas, said goodbye to her friend Marcia Bergeron, not knowing the flu she thought her friend had was actually heavy metal poisoning which would kill her the same day.

Self-Sufficiency Key to Secure Medicine

July 22, 2011

Nigerian leader, Dr. Paul Orhii, discussed the difficulties of keeping the drug supply free from counterfeit medicines, including porous borders, lack of resources, and the dependence upon foreign medication for their own health.

In an interview with Winifred Ogbedo in magazine Leadership, Dr. Orhii, the director-general of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), discussed the strides he’s been able to make to improve the safety of medication available to Nigerians, and the biggest obstacles to overcome, notably the development of domestically controlled medicine manufacturing.

Dr. Orhii is seeking to develop a domestic pharmaceutical manufacturing business because he says, “it’s a national security issue,” with 70% of essential medications imported from out of country.

Counterfeit Drugs Removed from Manilla Shelves

July 22, 2011

A test-buy conducted by Filipino National Bureau of Investigation agents determined counterfeit medicines were being mass distributed by a drug store chain throughout The Philippines.   Agents conducted raids of Sincere Drug Store branches and its warehouse facility in Bacolod City in June, acting on complaints that counterfeits of medications produced by legitimate Filipino manufacturers…

New Spectral Database for Counterfeit Drugs

July 18, 2011

Swiss researchers have developed a database of fake medicines using Raman spectrometry data in order to help investigators follow the counterfeit distribution chain from manufacturers to distributors internationally.   The University of Lausanne and Roche are using near-infrared and Raman spectra, as well as gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy…

Harrisburg Pharmacist Sentenced for Running Fake Online Pharmacy

July 13, 2011

A Pennsylvania licensed pharmacist who operated a brick and mortar pharmacy in Harrisburg, PA, was sentenced to 51 months in prison for illegally distribution pain medication and stimulants over the internet. Stephen L. Marks, 67, formerly of Carlisle, PA, pleaded guilty to conspiring to distribute controlled substances and money laundering. At his plea, he admitted…

Americans Using Fake Pharmacies to Treat Serious Illness More than EU and Canada

July 12, 2011

Screenshot of an Eva brand fake online pharmacy UCSD researchers have collected data that shows that 33% of medications purchased by Americans from a fake Internet pharmacy affiliate program are for serious illness.  They estimate that 85% of all serious illness medication purchased online from fake online pharmacies is purchased by Americans. Researchers at the University…

Counterfeit Medicine Distributors Sentenced in the UK

July 11, 2011

Two Bristol men pleaded guilty in Bristol Crown Court to supplying and distributing counterfeit medication made in China to the UK and Europe. Graham Dawson, 29, admitted he contacted counterfeit drug producers in China and used Colin Proctor, 29, to send shipments received from China to destinations across the UK and Europe, reported the Bristol…

Illinois Man Convicted of Shipping Meds for Fake Online Pharmacy

July 8, 2011

An Illinois resident pleaded guilty in Federal Court to conspiracy to distribute and dispenses Schedule III and IV controlled substances and to illegal use of a communication facility to facilitate a drug crime by shipping drug orders for fake online pharmacy customers. Steven B. Immergluck, 35, of Aurora, IL, pleaded guilty without a trial. Immergluck…

More than Half of all Sales to Rogue Internet Pharmacies Were Processed by the Top 7 Banks

July 6, 2011

The top seven card-issuing banks were processors for more than half of all medicine sales to the largest fake Internet pharmacies in the past four years. Brian Krebs reports that sales data stolen from Glavmed, a Russian affiliate program that pays webmasters to host and promote fake online pharmacies, show that card-issuing banks are key…

Owner of Rogue Pharmacy Network Arrested for Employing Hackers

July 5, 2011

Pavel Vrublevsky, co-owner of Rx-Promotion, a rogue online pharmacy affiliate network, as well as ChronoPay, the largest online payment processor in Russia, has been arrested by Russian authorities for allegedly hiring a hacker to attack a rival payment processing company. Russian state news, Vesti, reports that Vrublevsky allegedly hired a hacker who debilitated the current…

Pharmaceutical Drug Crime Rising, But At A Slower Place

June 28, 2011

Since completion of its annual review of the incidence of pharmaceutical crime including the counterfeiting, illegal diversion and theft of medicines, the Pharmaceutical Security Institute has been engaged in briefings of drug regulators around the world.

Counterfeit Inhaler Importer Sentenced in UK

June 27, 2011

One of three businessmen accused of importing and selling counterfeit asthma inhalers in the United Kingdom has been convicted and sentenced to twelve months’ imprisonment for possessing 800 counterfeit asthma inhalers. Premal Gandesha, of West Drayton, pleaded guilty on June 13, 2011, to importing medicine from outside the European Economic Area through his company, Blueridge…

Counterfeit Meds Found in Canada: Contains Ingredients Not in Authentic Product

June 24, 2011

Health Canada, the Canadian health regulatory agency, has discovered fake medication in the Toronto area that contains ingredients not found in the legitmate medication.

The seized medication is fake erectile dysfunction medication mimicking Cialis in shape, form, and similar packaging, but actually contains sildenafil, a prescription medication not found in authentic Cialis that can be very dangerous to people with heart conditions and requires careful medical supervision for use.  

Health Canada reminds consumers to look for drug identification numbers to verify authenticity. “Health products that have been authorized for sale by Health Canada will have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), a Homeopathic Medicine Number (DINHM) or a Natural Product Number (NPN) on the label.”

The blisterpacks of the fake medication look very similar.  The logo is reproduced in larger form on the counterfeit, and the typeface is similar but incorrect.  Most notably, the counterfeit package has tadalafil written on it in four languages, including Russian.  

In addition, the authentic Cialis blister packs have a logo that changes color from copper to green when the package is tilted, which is not true of the counterfeits, reports CBC News Canada.

Counterfeit Cialis Seized in the Greater Toronto Area

June 23, 2011

This is a reprint of the Health Canada alert. Following an R.C.M.P. seizure of counterfeit Cialis in the Greater Toronto Area, Health Canada is reminding Canadians that unauthorized and counterfeit health products can pose serious risks to their health as they have not been reviewed by the Department for safety, quality, or efficacy. The seized…

Counterfeit Prescription Drugs Purchased Online Suspected in Two Deaths

June 21, 2011

Gardaí issued a warning about the use of counterfeit medication following the accidental death of two men in Tralee, Ireland. Gardaí in Kerry believe counterfeit tranquilizers purchased over the internet were involved in the deaths of two men, one in his late 20s, and the other in his early 30s, reports The Irish Examiner. Detective…

Anti-Counterfeiting Medicine Lab Opens in Southern Africa

June 21, 2011

Zambian government officials have allocated K2 billion to building a National Drug Quality Control Laboratory in Lusaka, announced the Ministry of Health. Under the authority of the Pharmaceutical Regulatory Authority, the goal of the laboratory is to curb the spread of counterfeit medicine within Zambia, reports the Zambia Daily Mail. Said Minster of Health Kapembwa…

Unlicensed Pharmacy Network Tied to Russian Mob and Corrupt Police

June 20, 2011

The online pharmacy spam in your email is probably coming from an online pharmacy organization with close links to organized crime and corrupt police in Russia.

The most actively promoted online pharmacies via spam are associated with Rx-Promotion.com, according to University of California at San Diego researchers.

Now new documents have revealed that Rx-Promotion.com, an affiliate network of rogue pharmacies, is associated with ChronoPay, the largest payment processor in Russia. While ChronoPay claims to be the PayPal of Russia, it makes a large part of its profits from illegal internet-based businesses, including promoting extreme pornographic websites, selling pirated music and movies, and is known for paying off police inspectors and working with nefarious banks.

Investigative reporter Brian Krebs has reported that evidence provided to law enforcement agencies has revealed that ChronoPay’s chief executive, Pavel Vrublevsky, is also definitively the criminal mastermind of this collection of illicit businesses, including the online pharmacies.

According to Krebs, Vrublevsky purchased a license for an Intranet service called “MegaPlan” which is a project management system he used to keep a track of ChronoPay’s “black” operations, including processing payments for counterfeit prescription drugs sold through hundreds of websites affiliated with rogue online pharmacy program Rx-promotion.com.

Delving into the MegaPlan, law enforcement agents discovered how ChronoPay employees tracked payments, ordered supplies, and ran advertising partnerships for Rx-promotion.com and other nefarious services, including “rape” pornography sites and other violent pornography, as well as pirated mp3s, and fake anti-virus software known as “scareware.”

Though employees used pseudonyms in the system, they forwarded the pseudonymic email to their actual ChronoPay email accounts, which allowed authorities to identify them.

The project management software revealed that the equal partners for the rogue pharmacy promotion program, Rx-Promotion, were Vrubelvsky and Yuri Kabayenkov. But in addition, a former Russian police investigator, previously in charge of a criminal investigation of Vrublevsky, was identified as being on the payroll.

Lifesaving Medicine Discovered to be Counterfeit, No Active Ingredient

June 20, 2011

The Food and Drug Board (FDB) of Ghana announced that laboratory analyses discovered anti-malarial medication without any active ingredients. Dr. Stephen Opuni, Chief Executive of the FDB, said that counterfeit medication, artesunate tablets, labeled as if manufactured by Guilin Pharmaceutical Co in China, had been analyzed for artesunate contain none, reported the Ghana News Agency.…

United Nations Focusing on Counterfeit Medicine Trade in West Africa

June 20, 2011

United Nations officials working with African government ministers and Interpol representatives pledged to fight drug trafficking and organized crime, focusing on counterfeit medicine production and trade throughout West Africa, in Dakar on June 20, 2011. The inaugural session of the High-Level Policy Committee of the West Africa Coast Initiative was filled with discussion about how…

Conspirators Sell Counterfeit Medicine Over Email and Craigslist

June 16, 2011

A Maryland man has been implicated as an alleged partner to the Waldorf woman arrested for allegedly selling counterfeit medication out of her house. 34 year old Dwayne Skiles was charged with trafficking in counterfeit goods according to an unsealed complaint, reports The Washington Examiner. According to the complaint issued by the District Court of…

Fake Doctor and Counterfeit Medicine Hawkers Arrested in Nigeria

June 15, 2011

In Nigeria, a 40 year old fake Cameroonian doctor has been arrested administering counterfeit medication to patients in a local hospital, and 400 people have been implicated in a N70 million conspiracy to sell counterfeit drugs. The supposed doctor, Kweken Allen Blaise, from Cameroon, collaborated with Yahaya Jidda, from Taraba State, confessed to smuggling fake…

Bahrain Customs Go After Online Drugs

June 15, 2011

Bahrain’s customs officers are now strictly screening medications delivered via the mail to Bahrain residents. The Health Ministry pharmacy and drug control director Sahar Al Qahtani said that they are cracking down on potentially harmful counterfeit drugs and herbal remedies not licensed for use in Bahrain. Recipients of medication packages are now brought in for…

Cloud Based Technology Stops Drug Counterfeiters and Malaria

June 14, 2011

Cloud based technologies have been implemented in two new initiatives to help improve health in Africa, a mobile phone based system to collect malaria data in Botswana, and a counterfeit medicine detection service in Ghana and Nigeria. The malaria data collection service is run by a Botswana-based nonprofit, Positive Innovation for the New Generation (PING).…

Qatar Drafts Counterfeit Drug Law

June 14, 2011

Qatar is working on the first counterfeit drug law in country, announced the Qatar’s Supreme Council of Health’s Pharmacy and Drug Control Department (PDCD). PDCD director, Dr Aisha Ebrahim Al Ansari, said that the law is currently being reviewed and will be adopted and submitted to higher authorities for approval, reports The Gulf News. “The…

Online Pharmacy Owner Sentenced to 7 Years in Fake Drug Distribution Conspiracy

June 13, 2011

An online pharmacy owner, operating out of Texas, was sentenced to seven years in federal prison for trafficking and attempting to traffic in counterfeit medicine, specifically fake versions of the pharmaceutical weight loss drug known as Alli that contained a dangerous substitute ingredient that caused stroke in one victim. The U.S. Department of Justice issued…

Egyptian Counterfeit Drugs Up 20%

June 13, 2011

Egyptian officials say local counterfeit drug trade including life saving medications has peaked in a year with an estimation of LE 1billion. Al-Gomhuriya reports that experts are predicting a 10% growth in the counterfeit medicine market for 2010. Local pharmacists are concerned saying, “The sale of counterfeit medical drugs has risen.” Abdul Aziz Hanafi, a…

Americans Using Fake Medicine Endanger Their Lives and Risk Involvement with Criminals

June 7, 2011

Every day Americans go to Tijuana, Mexico to buy prescription drugs at discounted prices, despite US state department warnings that criminals impersonating Mexican authorities have detained US citizens with legitimate prescriptions and demanded large bribes. 25% of the prescription medications available in Mexico are fake or substandard, estimates US authorities, reports CNN. Counterfeit medications are…

Rogue Internet Pharmacy Owner Gets 48 Months in Prison, Canadian Partner is a Fugitive

June 6, 2011

  On June 3, 2011, an internet pharmacy owner that solid misbranded and counterfeit drugs, as well as controlled substances, was sentenced to 48 months in federal prison. The other half of the partnership, his Canadian co-conspirator, is wanted by officials.   Manuel Calvelo, 37, a Belgian citizen, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy…

3 Million Doses of Counterfeit Medication Confiscated in San Francisco

June 6, 2011

San Francisco Customs report that over 3 million doses of fake drugs were seized in 2010 at San Francisco International Airport. Chief Customs Officer Ed Low at the International Mailing Facility at San Francisco International Airport finds counterfeit drugs coming through the mail every day, including penicillin, valium, and erectile dysfunction medication, reports CBS News.…

WikiPharmacy New Spammer Ploy to Fool Consumers

June 3, 2011

Consumers beware: there is no wikipharmacy. This is a new ploy by spammers to entice the unwitting into revealing personal financial information and purchasing unregulated medicines from fake drug hawkers. Spammers have created a wiki-style layout for a so-called “WikiPharmacy” to entice purchasers through advertising low prices. Victims are drawn in by the known reliability…

Patients Awaken During Surgery with Fake Anesthetics

June 2, 2011

Fake vials of surgical anesthetics have been found in the marketplace in Birtangar, Nepal, after a patient awoke mid-gallstone surgery. A patient awoke during a gallstone removal procedure in a private hospital in Biratngar, five minutes after being administered with the anesthetic, Vacuron. Doctors notified authorities who found fake vials of the anesthetic in the…

Fake Drug Hawkers Threaten Anti-Counterfeiting Officials in Nigeria

May 31, 2011

NAFDAC officials were surrounded and threatened by drug traders while raiding a pharmaceutical marketplace with a masked informant in Nigeria. Three suspected fake medicine sellers were apprehended by authorities with their wares by the National Agency for Food, Drug Administration Control (NAFDAC) however the majority of suspects had emptied their shops prior to the raid,…

Online Pharmacy Owner Caught Selling Fake Drugs Out Of London Garage

May 31, 2011

An Uxbridge resident has pleaded guilty to selling counterfeit medicine online from a repair garage in northwest London. Saranjit Bhambra admitted to operating a website, www.keepithard.co.uk, that sold prescription erectile dysfunction medication without a prescription. He pleaded guilty on April 26, 2011, to one offense of selling medicinal products that contain ingredients found in medicines…

200 Arrested in Fake Medicine Ring

May 30, 2011

Police in China’s Zhejiang Province arrested more than 200 suspects on May 25, 2011, for allegedly manufacturing and selling fake medicine and health care products. Over 1,000 police officers from the Jinhua Public Security Department raided 41 locations and arrested in total 263 people, mostly originally from Loudi, in Hunan Province, reported the China Business…

Detroit Man Arrested a Second Time for Counterfeit Drug Sales

May 30, 2011

Federal authorities arrested a Detroit resident on May 26, 2011, for running a counterfeit medicine ring. Gene Hardwick, 49, allegedly bought hundreds of fake erectile dysfunction pills online for 50 cents apiece and then sold them locally for $3- $4 each, netting roughly $800 a month, reports the Detroit Free Press. Federal authorities were alerted…

UK Paramedic Dies of Accidental Overdose of Drugs Sold Through Foreign Online Pharmacy

May 27, 2011

The death of a London paramedic has been ruled accidental after she ingested a fatal dose of pills purchased from a foreign online pharmacy.

Lorna Lambden, 27, a paramedic and Masters Degree student at the University of Hertfordshire, was found dead in her home on December 17, 2010, after ingesting pills purchased over the internet without a prescription, reports the Daily Mail.

The coroner, Edward Thomas, found a fatal level of the drug amitriptyline in her blood. Thomas added that the medication had not been prescribed to Lambden, but suspected she purchased an equivalent called “amitrip” from a foreign internet-based pharmacy.

Said Thomas, “…four milligrams [worth of amitriptyline were] found in her blood, and a therapeutic level is about one milligram.” He went on to say that after taking the drug she collapsed and suffered a cardiac arrhythmia, reports the St. Albans Review.

Lambden’s family knew that she had trouble sleeping and suspect she purchased the medication to rest between twelve hour shifts with the London Ambulance Service, reports the London Metro.

Lambden’s mother, a retired accident and emergency sister, said: “It’s terrible that these drugs are so freely available online and people can buy them without seeing any warnings about the harm they can do.”

Coroner Thomas said: “Amitriptyline can stop the heart and I think that is likely here. Lorna would not have known it had happened. It would not have been like a heart attack.”

Miami Woman Arrested for Fake Botox Injections

May 27, 2011

A Miami facialist has been arrested by police for allegedly perfoming unlicensed facial injections of counterfeit Botox that severely injured two people. Diana Marcela Cardenas-Gonzalez, 28, was charged on Tuesday, May 24th, of practicing medicine without a license, and practicing health care without a license causing injuries, reports NBC Miami. On September 26, 2010, in…

Counterfeit Diet Drugs Banned in the US Found for Sale In Israel

May 27, 2011

US FDA alerted US consumers to sibutramine containing diet capsules in early May, and now those same capsules have been found for sale in Israel, according to the Israeli Health Ministry’s Pharmaceutical Crime Unit. The drug was withdrawn from the US market due to safety reasons in October 2010, and has sent a “large number”…

New Zealand Woman Risks Death with Fake Botox Injections

May 26, 2011

New Zealand and Australian surgeons are warning people not to buy fake Botox injections on the internet after several people were severely injured and suffered life-threatening complications. The President of the New Zealand College of Appearance Medicine, Dr. Teresa Cattin, says that they often see women with injuries from do-it-yourself botox injections, reports MSN New…

Product Recall: Slim Xtreme Herbal Slimming Capsule for Undeclared Drug Ingredient

May 26, 2011

This is a reprint of the FDA Safety Alert. All lots of Slim Xtreme Herbal Slimming Capsule, 30 Capsules/Bottle, are being recalled. The products were sold and distributed nationwide via the internet and at the company’s headquarters in Hollywood, Florida. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is advising consumers not to purchase or use “Slim…

Medicine Cargo Stolen in Tennessee

May 25, 2011

13,000 packages of a variety of generic medicines in approximately 400 cases were seized in a robbery from a tractor trailer parked in a secure yard in Jackson, TN on May 14, 2011. Securing Pharma reports that the stolen cargo included “cholesterol-lowering colestipol tablets, eplerenone tablets for heart failure, the antibiotics azithromycin and clindamycin in…

Study Highlights Risk of Online Drug Purchases

May 24, 2011

Dr. Mark Baron, of the School of Natural and Applied Sciences, published a study in the Drug Testing and Analysis Journal for May 2011 which exposes the likelihood drugs purchased on the internet may not contain the ingredients they claim.  The study published May 20, 2011 in the Journal of Drug Testing and Analysis, purchased…

Suspect Medicine Turns Up on Craigslist

May 23, 2011

The California State Board of Pharmacy announced an investigation into people illegally selling prescription drugs online after an ABC Eyewitness news exposé. Eyewitness News reported Craigslist.org users illegally selling prescription medications through the online classified advertisement service. Virgina Herold, Executive Office of the California State Board of Pharmacy said, “It’s unfortunate that Craigslist is now…

Fake Cancer Drug Ring Exposed in Chinese Trial

May 20, 2011

Eleven defendants pleaded guilty to producing and selling fake cancer drug medication that caused eye infections in 61 people in Shanghai, China. 

The counterfeit cancer medication, given to patients suffering macular degeneration, was containmnated saline, reported the prosecution to the Luwan District People’s Court, reported English Eastday.

A drug test report by the Shanghai Institute for Food and Drug Control found that the fake Avastin contained excessive bacteria endotoxin.

The 61 patients were among 116 people who received the fake medicine in September 2010. 

The process for the distribution of the fake medication was detailed by defendants, reported the Shanghai Daily.

Second African Diaspora Marketplace to Launch 4Q11

May 20, 2011

USAID announced that it will launch a second African Diaspora Marketplace (ADM) in the fourth quarter of 2011, to encourage economic growth by supporting U.S.-based African Diaspora entrepreneurs for start up businesses in Sub-Saharan Africa.  One such firm that made headlines in 2010 is Sproxil, a provider of cell phone technology in Nigeria used by…

EU Drug Counterfeiting Organization Intercepted in Spain

May 19, 2011

Spanish police have arrested 26 people in Marbella, Spain, suspected of leading a network of counterfeit medicine distributors throughout Europe. Spanish police uncovered over 700,000 doses of suspect medication. The illegal susbstances are suspected of being imported int Glasgow, Scotland, before distribution throughout Europe from the port of Manchester, England, reports the Telegraph. Police said…

Canadians Find Millions in Fake Drugs

May 18, 2011

Canadian Mounties seized more than 115,000 counterfeit pills during a raid at a Mississauga, Ontario, warehouse on May 13, 2011. The Royal Canadian Mounted Police estimates that value of drugs, combined with a stash of fake designer clothing, at $5 million Canadian, reports CNews. Mounties in British Columbia intercepted 15,000 fake erectile dysfunction pills packaged…

UNODC Up Against Crime Syndicates in Fight To Curb Fake Drugs

May 17, 2011

The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime has announced that it will take an active part in helping countries fight drug counterfeiters in a growing alarm over fake drugs impact on preventable deaths and super bugs. Says UNODC, approximately $1.6 billion worth of medication in Africa and Asia alone is being faked by growing…

Second New Jersey Couple Charged With Selling Counterfeit Drugs

May 16, 2011

A New Jersey couple pleaded guilty to charges they engaged in the unlicensed wholesale distribution of pharmaceuticals, admitting they sold fake drugs manufactured in India to customers in the United States. Nita Patel, 47, and her husband, Harshad, 53, of Closter, pleaded guilty in Camden, New Jersey, on May 16th, 2011, reported the North Jersey…

Fake Antibiotics Found in Six States

May 16, 2011

The FDA has issued an alert warning American consumers to be on the look out for look-alike fake antibiotics. Dietary supplements purporting to have antibiotic or antifungal properties that actually contain no antimicrobial ingredients have been found in five states but may be found elsewhere in the US.

FDA: Don’t buy drugs marketed as antimicrobial dietary supplements

May 16, 2011

This is a reprint of the FDA alert. Fast Facts The FDA is warning consumers not to use products marketed as dietary supplements that also claim to be antimicrobial (antibiotic, antifungal or antiviral) drugs. These illegal products are falsely promoted with claims to treat illnesses such as upper respiratory infections, sinusitis, pneumonia, bronchitis and the common…

FDA warns about counterfeit ExtenZe dietary supplements

May 16, 2011

This is a reprint of the FDA alert. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning consumers about a potentially harmful product represented as “ExtenZe,” a dietary supplement for male sexual enhancement. The counterfeit product looks similar to the actual product, but contains hidden ingredients that can cause serious harm to consumers. The counterfeit product…

Australians Catch 24 Packages of Fake Drugs Every Month

May 13, 2011

Australian customs officials in Queensland have stopped 288 packages containing counterfeit medications in the past twelve months, an increase of 7 fold from the previous year. Consumers concerned about costs, or purposefully circumventing the prescription process, have been purchasing everything from weight-loss pills to opiates on line. In many case, the drugs are marketed using…

NABP: 96% of Online Pharmacies are Not Safe for Consumers

May 12, 2011

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy (NABP) issued a progress report for state and federal regulators summarizing the overwhelming quantity of internet drug outlets selling prescription medications operating out of compliance with laws and patient safety standards.

New Technology Stems the Rising Tide of Fake Drugs

May 12, 2011

When a country is large and porous, keeping fake drugs out of the country isn’t as effective as keeping them out of the marketplace with new anti-counterfeit technology, reports Dr. Paul Orhii, of Nigeria.

Recent Dr. Oz show highlights life-threatening consequences of counterfeit Botox

May 12, 2011

by Dr. Bryan Liang, VP of the Partnership for Safe Medicines

Recently I was on the Doctor Oz show, which highlighted the public health dangers of counterfeit Botox. The danger here is very real as counterfeit Botox has been growing. The number of counterfeits found are continuing to rise, with the FDA opening 20% more investigations over the past couple of years that include Botox. More recently, Chinese Botox fakes have been found with concentrations differing by 500% than stated on its label that use materials that may cause severe allergic reactions. Hence, the real scope of the problem is probably much worse.

If you are thinking of getting a Botox treatment, I recommend following the four simple rules below that were discussed on the show yesterday:

Be an informed consumer

Learn about what are safe sources for pharmaceuticals, and learn how to be skeptical of deals that seem “too good to be true”.  When it comes to medications, they probably are.  You can learn more at the consumer section of our website.

Know who is performing your treatment

Plastic surgeons, dermatologists, and properly trained opthalmologists and otolaryngologists (ENT doctors) are the only ones who should be injecting Botox.  It is possible to get certified to inject Botox without any medical training, but I don’t recommend using these persons because they may lack training in the event of a medical emergency.

Fake Anti-Malaria Medicine Spreads Malaria

May 11, 2011

Bright Ekweremadu, the Managing Director of the Society for Family Health (SFH) blames “rampant adulteration” of anti-malaria drugs for malaria rates in Nigeria.

New Hampshire Woman Pleads Guilty to Fake Pill Smuggling

May 10, 2011

Elisane Garcia of Hooksett, New Hampshire, pled guilty to a four-count indictment charging her with smuggling goods into the U.S., selling misbranded drugs, possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute and money laundering. Garcia paid $45,000 for thousands of pills, known as “Brazilian diet pills,” delivered to her from suppliers in Brazil. These…

FDA, FTC act to remove fraudulent STD products from the market

May 9, 2011

This is a reprint of the FDA alert. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) today announced a joint effort to remove products from the market that make unproven claims to treat, cure, and prevent sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). Among the products targeted in today’s action are Medavir, Herpaflor,…

Supplement Maker Sentenced for Using Unapproved Drugs

May 9, 2011

An Idaho federal court sentenced a Vista, California nutritional supplement maker, Tribravus Enterprises, for the unlawful manufacture and distribution of unapproved synthetic steroids in over-the-counter pills marketed as “dietary supplements.”