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BOC nabs counterfeit medicines from Pakistan
The Bureau of Customs on Tuesday seized 660 kilograms of counterfeit medicines from Pakistan worth millions of pesos.
The shipment was consigned to a Richard Sorioso and comprised several counterfeit medicine brands which include:
- anti-psoriasis and skin allergy ointments like “Betnovate” and “Dermovate”
- female hormonal drugs “Duphaston” and “Diane”
- vascular disease drug “Daflon”
- anti-hypertension drug “Plendil”
- anti-vertigo medicine “Stugeron”
- diabetes drug “Glucophage”
- abdominal pain medicine “Buscopan”
The products will be turned-over to the Food and Drug Administration and the Intellectual Property Office for further investigation and to estimate the shipment's true value, the agency said.
Intelligence Division chief Nestor Añonuevo said importation of medicine requires permits from other government agencies. "More than being a smuggling issue, we need to protect the public from drugs that could potentially cause more harm than be cures for ailments."
The shipment arrived on board a Thai Airways flight from Karachi, Pakistan via Bangkok, Thailand last December 19.
It was placed under Alert Order by the Bureau’s Intelligence Group following a tip received by the office of Commissioner John Sevilla.
Last month, an estimated P2-million worth of anti-depressant Alprazolam was found by personnel of the Bureau inside boxes sent via air cargo from Pakistan, which were turned-over to the Drug Enforcement Agency. – Danessa O. Rivera/VS, GMA News
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