'Professional' drug fakers busted
By Dong Zhen |
November 2, 2011, Wednesday
|
Print Edition
Print Edition
POLICE in central China's Henan Province have smashed a "highly professional" counterfeit medicine ring and arrested 114 people.
Officers said the gang made fakes of products by a dozen domestic and overseas licensed drug companies.
More than 6.5 million bogus items were seized, with a value of 190 million yuan (US$ 29.9 million).
Police also busted 117 fake drug production and sales sites and seized 110 pieces of drug making equipmentn.
News of the bust came as Dara Corrigan, a top US Food and Drug Administration official, was visiting Shanghai yesterday to address Chinese counterparts on the importance of ensuring the safety of drug supplies and China's role in this as a significant supplier to the US market.
Police in Henan's Kaifeng City spent four months investigating the fake drug underground network.
A breakthrough came when officers questioned a woman caught playing a sleight-of-hand con trick at drug stores.
Posing as a customer, Tian She had swapped bogus medicines for the genuine article at several Kaifeng drug stores before being caught in April.
Police analyzed the fake drugs used in the scams and discovered the ingredients closely resembled those in the genuine products, leading them to suspect a professional underground producer at work.
Tian, a farmer, refused to reveal the source of her drugs. However, police noticed that several telephone numbers in her cellphone contacts went out of operation shortly after her arrest.
These provided initial clues to get closer to the gang, police said.
Tian was later sentenced to 10 months in jail for theft.
Suspects arrested in the crackdown are now awaiting trials.
Corrigan is visiting several Chinese cities to discuss drug safety inspections with Chinese drug regulators and manufacturers.
With more than 80 percent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients used in the US coming from overseas, and 40 percent of all finished medicines, collaboration on safety issues is critical, said Corrigan, who overseas the FDA's inspections.
She said the FDA understands that it's important to bridge the gap between different practice systems through increased communication and by offering more training for Chinese counterparts.
Officers said the gang made fakes of products by a dozen domestic and overseas licensed drug companies.
More than 6.5 million bogus items were seized, with a value of 190 million yuan (US$ 29.9 million).
Police also busted 117 fake drug production and sales sites and seized 110 pieces of drug making equipmentn.
News of the bust came as Dara Corrigan, a top US Food and Drug Administration official, was visiting Shanghai yesterday to address Chinese counterparts on the importance of ensuring the safety of drug supplies and China's role in this as a significant supplier to the US market.
Police in Henan's Kaifeng City spent four months investigating the fake drug underground network.
A breakthrough came when officers questioned a woman caught playing a sleight-of-hand con trick at drug stores.
Posing as a customer, Tian She had swapped bogus medicines for the genuine article at several Kaifeng drug stores before being caught in April.
Police analyzed the fake drugs used in the scams and discovered the ingredients closely resembled those in the genuine products, leading them to suspect a professional underground producer at work.
Tian, a farmer, refused to reveal the source of her drugs. However, police noticed that several telephone numbers in her cellphone contacts went out of operation shortly after her arrest.
These provided initial clues to get closer to the gang, police said.
Tian was later sentenced to 10 months in jail for theft.
Suspects arrested in the crackdown are now awaiting trials.
Corrigan is visiting several Chinese cities to discuss drug safety inspections with Chinese drug regulators and manufacturers.
With more than 80 percent of the active pharmaceutical ingredients used in the US coming from overseas, and 40 percent of all finished medicines, collaboration on safety issues is critical, said Corrigan, who overseas the FDA's inspections.
She said the FDA understands that it's important to bridge the gap between different practice systems through increased communication and by offering more training for Chinese counterparts.
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