Unapproved meds and cosmetics worth RM400,000 seized locally as part of Interpol worldwide ops

PETALING JAYA: Unregistered medication, cosmetics and pharmaceutical products worth over RM400,000 have been seized in Malaysia by local authorities as part of the Interpol-coordinated worldwide Operation Pangea XVI.

The Malaysian operations, coordinated by the Health Ministry’s Pharmacy Enforcement Division, also involved Interpol National Central Bureau (NCB) Malaysia, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department and the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC).

Health Ministry senior director of pharmacy services Norhaliza A. Halim said in a statement on Wednesday (Dec 27) that 1,675 websites, social media accounts and ecommerce sites selling pharmaceutical products were found to have breached the law.

She said 76% of these were ecommerce platforms.

“Complaints were lodged with MCMC against these websites, social media platforms and ecommerce sites to restrict access to these sites and for the content to be taken down.

“It was found through the operation this year that there was an increase in the sale of controlled medicines such as psychotropic drugs, painkillers, antibiotics and cough syrup sold by unqualified and unauthorised sellers,” she said.

She added that a total of 330 parcels were checked, 58 of which contained unregistered pharmaceutical products that were then seized.

Checks were also conducted at international entry points nationwide, such as air cargo complexes, airports, border checkpoints and ferry terminals.

“Some 13,552 units (of products) worth RM132,498.00 were confiscated (at) these locations,” Norhaliza said.

The seized items comprised cosmetics (2,359 units), gastric medicines (2,243 units) and steroids (1,673 units).

“The Pharmacy Enforcement Division also found an increasing trend of painkillers and health supplements being purchased from overseas.

“This year, 1,465 units of painkillers and 1,343 health supplements were seized at international gateways and mail centres nationwide.

“Most of the pharmaceutical products and cosmetics seized came from Australia, Bangladesh, Hong Kong, Japan and India,” Norhaliza added.

The division also conducted targeted raids on online sellers and business premises and found 45 unregistered premises selling pharmaceutical products in homes, clinics and business outlets.

A total of 96,691 units of pharmaceutical products worth RM 417,291 that did not comply with the law were seized for further action.

The raids targeted psychotropic substances, and the division also seized traditional products laced with fake steroids, painkillers and cough syrups that were unregistered and sold by unauthorised sellers who were not licensed under the Poisons Act 1952.

“From the raid, a total of 12 investigation files have been opened for further action,” Norhaliza said.

Operation Pangea is an annual international operation aimed at curbing the sale, supply and advertising of unregistered and fake pharmaceutical products.

The operation, conducted from Oct 3 to 10 in 89 countries, resulted in 72 arrests in total, the seizure of products worth more than RM32.43mil, 325 investigation files opened and the closure of 1,300 advertising sites involved in pharmaceutical crime.

The most common form of medicine confiscated was sexual stimulants (22%), followed by psychotropic substances such as antidepressants(19%), and sexual hormones and gastrointestinal treatments (12% each).