In Argentina, 42 raids were conducted as part of continuing investigations into counterfeit and illegal drug distribution by organized crime.According to the Argentinean news organization, Momento 24, Argentinean authorities are continuing their two year investigation of counterfeit drug sellers that operate within workers' unions that involve the use of expired drugs, counterfeiting and murder.
Last week Judge Norberto Oyarbide ordered over 40 raids on suspected workers’ union sites in Capital Federal, Avellaneda, San Justo and other interior locations within Argentina.
As reported by Partnership for Safe Medicines: Among the organizations raided were employment organizations for truckers, metalworkers, air navigators, lottery, port, petrochemical, turf, post and telecommunications, teachers and automotive industries.
In Argentina, healthcare including doctor care and prescription drugs are distributed to the majority of Argentineans’ through their employment union organizations.
According to Momento 24:
• Police collected documentation on the purchase and distribution of cancer drugs, hemophilia medication and AIDS drugs.
• Police are looking for possible connections with drug companies, including San Javier of businessman Nestor Lorenzo, previously arrested and prosecuted for organized crime medicine distribution in 2009.
In earlier reports by Momento 24, Mr. Lorenzo has testified in the investigation for the murders of Sebastián Forza, Damian Ferron and Leopoldo Bina. He testified on the chain of suppliers and creditors of Forza, who, allegedly, sold a shipment of counterfeit hemophilia medications to the National Drug and Technology Agency (Anmat).
According to an earlier Momento 24 story, one of Mr. Lorenzo’s previous business partners in a small chain of drug stores, Luis Marcelo Tarzia died in jail after his arrest for allegedly being the local manager of a Mexican drug gang that set up a methamphetamine lab in Ingeniero Maschwitz.
This is a cautionary tale to industry stakeholders and consumers of pharmaceuticals within developed countries over the possible interdiction of dangerous medications within the legitimate supply chain.
Unfortunately this type of crime is becoming commonplace within the legitimate supply chain in the UK, Germany and even the United States.
Because of its high profit and low risk, counterfeiting or dealing in adulterated, fraudulent or sub-standard medications has become a lucrative trade and has drawn the attention of organized criminal elements. The real danger however is that it not only impacts those involved with the transaction but has potentially lethal implications for unsuspecting consumers who take these dangerous knock offs.
According to an earlier Momento 24 story, one of Mr. Lorenzo’s previous business partners in a small chain of drug stores, Luis Marcelo Tarzia died in jail after his arrest for allegedly being the local manager of a Mexican drug gang that set up a methamphetamine lab in Ingeniero Maschwitz.
This is a cautionary tale to industry stakeholders and consumers of pharmaceuticals within developed countries over the possible interdiction of dangerous medications within the legitimate supply chain.
Unfortunately this type of crime is becoming commonplace within the legitimate supply chain in the UK, Germany and even the United States.
Because of its high profit and low risk, counterfeiting or dealing in adulterated, fraudulent or sub-standard medications has become a lucrative trade and has drawn the attention of organized criminal elements. The real danger however is that it not only impacts those involved with the transaction but has potentially lethal implications for unsuspecting consumers who take these dangerous knock offs.
All members of the pharmaceutical supply chain must proactively take measures to protect their inventories.
To read the entire Momento 24 story, visit: http://momento24.com/en/2010/11/26/at-least-42-police-raids-on-the-case-of-counterfeit-drugs/
To read the entire story on Partnership for Safe Medicine, visit: http://www.safemedicines.org/2010/12/argentina-federales-investigate-fake-drug-crime-ring-60.html
To learn about anti-counterfeiting solutions, visit: http://www.xstreamsystems.net/
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