DEA: Black Market Steroids

In a presentation to the Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives in Norfolk, Virginia in July, Joseph Rannazzisi, Deputy Assistant Administrator at the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Office of Diversion Control made a presentation on Anabolic Steroids, Performance Enhancing Drugs and Dietary Supplements.

In his presentation, Mr. Rannazzisi disclosed an important statistic related to counterfeit products:

“Significant quantities of counterfeit steroids are available on the black market. Based on seizure statistics, this number could be 15% or higher.”

Obviously the implications as a healthcare related issue are significant even for illicit or black market goods.

Over 120 kgs (265 lbs) of Fake Viagra Bound for America and Europe Seized

One of the largest seizures of Fake Viagra occurred this week in India. A local organization Enforcers of Intellectual Property Rights (EIPR) supplied the police with months of data on the illegal manufacturing and aided the authorities in their investigation.

On 4:00 p.m. Saturday, February 14, 2009 Haryana (India) police raided a supposedly closed manufacturing plant and seized 200 kgs. (440 lbs.) of counterfeit medicine, including 120 kgs. (265 lbs.) of fake Viagra.

The police found evidence that the Viagra drug was being manufactured on site and found the active ingredient of Viagra, sildenafil citrate, in its raw material form as well as packaged products ready for shipping. The spurious drugs were allegedly bound for shipment to the United States, Europe, and Canada.

The Indian police arrested eight people who were working at the company called Chem Pharma Company and are likely to press charges against them and the owner of the company Mr. Bhardwaj.

The investigation is continuing and more raids and arrests are anticipated. A majority of fake erectile dysfunction (ED) medication like Viagra is thought to be produced in India, Pakistan and China. These operations often involve underground criminal organizations which have been linked to terrorist activity around the world.

Due to this recent threat to public health, XStream Systems would caution consumers to buy ED medications only from licensed pharmacists and avoid online purchases from sources other than those supported by actual brick-and-mortar pharmacies. Wholesalers and distributors should verify inventory received. Given the sophistication of this batch of counterfeit drugs molecular authentication methods would be the best countermeasure to block any counterfeit products from entering their business.

Largest European Seizure: Two Million Counterfeit Pills Seized in Brussels Airport

Two million counterfeit pills have been seized in Brussels Airport. The seizure of the drugs which originated in Mumbai, Indian and were bound for West Africa is the largest confiscation of counterfeit medicine in Europe.

The three Indian shipments contained counterfeit pharmaceuticals labeled as Tramal, a painkiller, and Fansidar, an anti-malaria drug.

Africa already has the daunting task of trying to control its malaria outbreaks without further obstacles of fake treatments. Many countries, organizations, and businesses have been aiding Africa to fight malaria and therefore, counterfeit medicine is a real threat to their work. In some countries up to 60% of anti-malaria drugs are fake and are aiding in the drugs resistance to current therapies.

Furthermore, the biggest victims are the children, because according to the Worlds Health Organization (WHO) a majority of malaria deaths are children under the age of five and Fasidar is one of the drugs given to pregnant women for the prevention of malaria.

The scope and intent of this particular case leads us to ask – Is any medication safe? How can we protect our most vulnerable medications? We believe the answer can be found in pharmaceutical authentication which verifies the drug itself. With nothing added and nothing destroyed; the method can be programmed to test various oral medications.

To learn more of this fascinating technology, see XStream Systems website at http://www.xstreamsystems.net/products.html.