Thursday, October 21, 2010

Pharmaceutical Delivery Driver Kidnapped, Drugs Stolen


Delivery truck high-jacked and driver kidnapped by gunmen posing as police for its cargo of prescription drugs.

In an incident that occurred early this month, according to Los Angeles Police, two robbers dressed as police officers held up a pharmaceutical delivery truck and kidnapped the driver before stealing its entire cargo of drugs.

According to the Associated Press:

• The truck was making an early-morning delivery to a Rite Aid in the San Fernando Valley when two men brandishing semiautomatic handguns approached the driver, Los Angeles police Sgt. Mitzi Grasso said. They were wearing dark clothing with "Police" emblazoned across the back.

• "They must have planned it," Grasso said. "They obviously knew the delivery schedule because they were waiting."

• One of the men got into the truck with the driver, and they drove to a spot about two miles away, where the driver was ordered out. He was unharmed.

• Grasso said the truck was making its first delivery of the day and was filled with a range of drugs, including narcotics such as Vicodin and OxyContin. The robbers made off with everything.

• "It was completely cleaned out," Grasso said. "They must have had people standing by."

This incident illustrates the value that criminals are placing on prescription drugs both for its use and value. Specifically these crimes are taking place routinely, not just for narcotics but because of the high cost of prescription drugs and their value on the black market.

All members of the pharmaceutical supply chain should protect their inventories, not only from theft and stolen goods but from the introduction of adulterated, sub-standard, fraudulent and counterfeit drugs.

To read the story on-line via Associated Press, visit: http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g5iQE5qKwtMeWzTB5P1rDAB38AWwD9IN46582?docId=D9IN46582

To learn more about pharmaceutical security solutions, visit: http://www.xstreamsystems.net/

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