Fake medicines seized in UK operation

The UK authorities have seized around £150,000-worth of unlicensed and counterfeit medicines at eight locations in London and Yorkshire, making six arrests.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) organised the swoop with the help of the police after receiving tip-offs from three brand owners - Pfizer, Eli Lilly and Sanofi-Aventis - whose products were copied by the counterfeiting ring.

The haul included the usual crop of erectile dysfunction medicines, but also antidepressants, painkillers, sedatives and injectable steroids, according to MHRA head of intelligence Nimo Ahmed, who said the fakes were probably destined for sale over the Internet.

Officers raided six locations in London and two in Yorkshire, seizing both counterfeit and unlicensed goods, packaging materials, computers and cash.  The medicines are now being analysed at government laboratories.

Those arrested in the operation are suspected of having links to organisations in Asia involved in the worldwide trade in counterfeit medicines.

Since 2006, MHRA operations have seized a total of around £6m-worth of counterfeit and illegal medicines.