Health

Fake medicines worth £2m seized including dermal fillers and diazepam, experts warn


FAKE medicines worth £2 million have been seized by Government officials.

The haul included unlicensed dermal fillers, diazepam, a drug used for anxiety and modafinil, which is used for sleep disorders.

 Some of the fake medicines seized included dermal fillers, which can cause permanent damage if injected anywhere on the face

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Some of the fake medicines seized included dermal fillers, which can cause permanent damage if injected anywhere on the face

It comes after cosmetic surgeons previously warned of the dangers of cheap dermal fillers, often bought overseas or in cut-cost salons.

Officials from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seized the fake medicines and medical devices at a semi-detached properly and lock up earlier this month as part of Operation Pangea, an initiative involving 116 countries.

One arrest has been made in connection with the investigation.

The team also targeted airports and mail delivery centres, where they uncovered illegal medicines hidden in video games and clothing.

 The haul also included fake diazepam, used to treat anxiety

newscentre@mhra.gov.uk

The haul also included fake diazepam, used to treat anxiety

The global operation has led to 859 arrest and yielded items worth about £10.9 million.

MHRA Head of Enforcement, Alastair Jeffrey, said: “Criminals who sell medicines over the internet have absolutely no regard for your health and taking medicine which is either falsified or unlicensed puts you at risk of serious harm.

“Our intelligence-led enforcement operations have seized millions of counterfeit and unlicensed medicines and devices in the UK. This is just the tip of the iceberg, and we will continue to take action against known criminals – working with our international partners to stop illegal medicines from entering the UK.

“To protect your health, visit your GP, get a correct diagnosis and buy medicines from a legitimate high street or registered pharmacy which can trade online with a distance selling logo.”

WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOUR MEDICINE IS FAKE

Be careful when buying medicines online
Be careful buying medicines online – criminals are known to exploit vulnerable people by supplying medicines through unregulated websites, the MHRA advised.

Do not self-prescribe
Self-diagnosis and self-medication can be very dangerous.

If you have a concern about your health, visit your GP, get a correct diagnosis and if medicines are prescribed, buy them from a legitimate source.

Report it
If you have any knowledge of criminal activity relating to the medicines offences then you should report this to the MHRA case referrals email address: CaseReferrals@mhra.gov.uk.

If you wish to report a website, you can at https://medicine-seller-register.mhra.gov.uk/report

You may also provide information anonymously through 0800 555111 or Crimestoppers (https://crimestoppers-uk.org/misc/contact-us/)

Separately, we recently worked with law enforcement agencies in India to prevent unlicensed medicines entering the UK.

Doctors have warned of a rise in black market cosmetic ops in countries like the UK and US.

Prof Ash Mosahebi, honorary secretary of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons’ (BAAPS), said people need to check if the products they are buying are safe before undergoing any cosmetic op.

“If they are having injections then god knows what they are being injected with, if it is safe,or if it is sterile,” he told The Sun Online.

“If you look at the procedures done off the back of a street they aren’t done by qualified doctors, it’s about making a quick buck.

“But then who knows what will happen to the patient afterwards.

“Oil, for example, does make it it look bigger for a few days but then it deflates and it’s likely infection like sepsis can kick in.

“I know of silicone oil being used, which shouldn’t be used for medical purposes.

“Most of the time the injections end up having a lot of bacteria in them as well because they aren’t sterile.

“It could lead to something called necrotising fasciitis, which is a flesh-eating bug.”


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