Taiwan Today

Law enforcement and health authorities conducted a nationwide sweep Feb. 4 of drug makers, night markets, radio stations, temples and other locations as part of their efforts to crack down on the distribution and sale of imitation and low-quality medicines. During the expansive operation, more than 60,000 tablets of counterfeit drugs, including weight loss substances and the aphrodisiac Tadalafil, were seized, along with approximately 300 kilograms of Chinese herbal medication illegally containing Western drug ingredients, and over 6,000 boxes of imitation drugs smuggled in from mainland China. At the same time, some 38 corporate executives suspected of violations of the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act and related laws were scheduled to undergo further questioning by investigators at a later date. The Investigation Bureau under the Ministry of Justice, which took part in the sting, said that many unscrupulous drug sellers use radio stations and night markets and other channels to market and peddle their low-quality and counterfeit products, with some adding substances such as steroids to the natural Chinese herbal medications that they sell. It urged citizens not to purchase medicines for which the source is not known in order to avoid causing harm to their bodies. One of the largest hauls in the operation was by the Yunlin office of the bureau, netting more than 130 different varieties of poor-quality and imitation drugs. Several suspects nabbed in the crackdown admitted that most of the drugs had been illicitly imported from the mainland. Among the medications confiscated was a counterfeit version of the popular erectile dysfunction drug Viagra being sold for NT$50 (US$1.6) per tablet, well below the market price of between NT$300 and NT$400 per tablet for the legitimate product. In Taipei City, authorities seized several dozen kilograms of steroids and antibiotics. The Investigation Bureau said if these regulated drugs were added to Chinese herbal medicines, they could produce tens of thousands of pills. According to the bureau, more than half of the drugs confiscated in the sweep were for pain relief, liver protection, weight loss, health enhancement or aphrodisiacs. The bureau also noted that sellers of these illicit medications have continued to develop new methods to peddle their products and avoid being caught by authorities. One innovative approach recently discovered is the use of “mobile pharmacies,” namely light trucks originally designed for food delivery and other services that are converted for the illegal activities. Such mobile pharmacies have been found to be operating in Taipei City in such locations as around parks and at times when seniors frequent these spots, particularly during the early morning hours. These vehicles have also often been spotted in action in many areas of central and southern Taiwan. The bureau said it would continue to work toward stamping out the sale of low-quality and counterfeit drugs as well as stepping up efforts to investigate the source of these illicit medications. (SB)