Illegal medical stock racket busted

Chaminda PERERA

Customs officials yesterday destroyed a stock of medicine and cosmetics worth Rs 17 million brought to the country illegally from April 1 to May 7 violating the Cosmetics Devices and Drug Authority Act 980.

The medicine was brought to the country without approval from the Cosmetics Devices and Drug Regulatory Authority, vested with power to control the manufacturing, storing, distribution and importing of drugs to the country.

Customs officials with the seized goods. Picture by Wasitha Patabendige

The drugs were brought to the country without adhering to guidelines for storage and transportation. Customs Spokesman P A Leslie Gamini said a number of medicine including Thalidomide, not allowed to be imported by the private sector, was among the illegal medical stock.

Customs officials detected over 150 such tablets from passenger baggage at the Bandaranaike International Airport.

Gamini said this drug racket had been carried in an organised manner for years.

He said most items were brought from India and Pakistan.

“There are many drugs including Misoprostol used in illegal abortion clinics in the country,” he said.

Customs officers took into custody over 572 such tablets from the possession of passengers at the BIA. Gamini said Customs officials detected many passengers who brought drugs used only in Intensive Care Units and Operating theatres. An injection vial is valued over Rs 150,000 in the private sector.

“A number of air passengers who smuggled these drugs concealed the items in their clothes to hoodwink customs officials and were detected at the BIA,” he said.

Gamini was of the view that passengers were caught smuggling medicine such as immunoglobulin which have to be kept and transported under low temperature level.

He said medicine such as Clonazepam used to treat panic disorder were also among the stock.

Using Clonazepam as a substitute for alcohol among schoolchildren is increasing. Customs officials detected over 81,900 such tablets during the month in review, Gamini said.