More than £35,000 of unlicensed erectile dysfunction medicine was seized in Sutton Coldfield yesterday as part of a covert investigation undertaken by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

A 60-year-old man was arrested for possession with intent to supply the medicines which included Kamagra, Savitra and Apcalis, all unlicensed Indian products. The man was taken to Sutton Coldfield police station for questioning on the extent of his illicit pharmaceutical business.

Tattered cardboard boxes and dirty plastic bags full of the drugs were found jammed in the boot of his vehicle.

MHRA Head of Enforcement Mick Deats said this type of criminal activity was illegal under the Medicines Act and was enforceable with up to two years imprisonment and / or an unlimited fine.

"What we found yesterday were shockingly unhygienic conditions for the handling of medicines. Dirty plastic bags and shabby cardboard boxes of unlicensed medicines were rammed into the boot of a car as well as in and around the spare tyre.

"Illegal suppliers such as this have no quality control or standards to abide by and people who purchase medicine from these sources will never know where the tablets they are putting in their mouths have actually been.

"If customers could see the filthy conditions these medicines were being handled in, they wouldn't touch them."

All of these unlicensed products contain ingredients that are found in prescription only medicines. Taking a prescription only medicine without a prescription or associated healthcare consultation leaves people vulnerable to harm.

Source
MHRA