US federal operation nets illegal meds sent via mail

A three-day operation aimed at intercepting illegal pharmaceuticals sent into the USA via the mail service has netted hundreds of packages containing unapproved and potentially counterfeit drugs, according to the US Food and Drug Administration.

The FDA worked with colleagues at the US Customs and Border Patrol and Postal Service to weed out the illegal medicines at the Miami International Mail Facility. This is one of the largest sorting centres in the USA for overseas mail, and so is a primary conduit for imported pharmaceuticals bought over the Internet.

Operation Safeguard uncovered a broad range of pharmaceuticals - including antibiotics, cardiovascular drugs and products to treat diabetes - which were not registered for use in the USA. They also found many products which were "clearly unapproved, unsafe and ineffective," according to the FDA's director of enforcement David Elder.

The FDA has no authority to take legal action against either the purchaser or the sender of the illegal goods, and does not have the authority to destroy them, so can only return them to the sender.

The agency estimates there are around 50 million packs brought into the USA by mail every year.