Op Jaipur Nets Estimated Seizure Of 20,000 Sex Drugs In Wokingham

Main Category: Sexual Health / STDs
Also Included In: Pharma Industry / Biotech Industry;  Litigation / Medical Malpractice
Article Date: 12 Jul 2008 - 0:00 PDT

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Enforcement officers from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), together with assistance from Thames Valley Police, have seized approximately 20,000 unlicensed medicines, worth an estimated £50,000. The medicines seized consisted of Kamagra tablets and jellies, used for male impotence. The result came following an early morning visit, codenamed Op Jaipur, by MHRA enforcement officers and police to three addresses in the Wokingham and Bracknell area.

Mick Deats, Group Manager of Enforcement at the MHRA said, "This seizure demonstrates our continuing commitment to protect public health. It is imperative that medicines are licensed correctly. The type of medicines we seized cannot be guaranteed to be safe because they have not been assessed for safety, quality and efficacy. At best these medicines could be a waste of money, at worst they could be severely detrimental to your health." The investigation is continuing.

Notes

1. If an individual is convicted of offences under the Medicines Act 1968, they can be sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine. Where appropriate the MHRA will use the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to determine whether or not benefits were accrued through criminal activity and will recoup illicit earnings if the individual is found guilty.

2. The MHRA is the government agency responsible for ensuring that medicines and medical devices work, and are acceptably safe. No product is risk-free. Underpinning all our work lie robust and fact-based judgements to ensure that the benefits to patients and the public justify the risks. We keep watch over medicines and devices, and take any necessary action to protect the public promptly if there is a problem. We encourage everyone - the public and healthcare professionals as well as the industry - to tell us about any problems with a medicine or medical device, so that we can investigate and take any necessary action.

http://www.mhra.gov.uk