Largest bust ever as police seize R126m worth of unregistered medicine at OR Tambo
Police in Gauteng have seized unregistered medicines worth R126 million rand at OR Tambo International Airport.
The medicine is mostly believed to be ivermectin in tablet form.
Ivermectin has been touted as a miracle cure for Covid-19, but the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority has only approved its use under strict conditions.
The police’s Athlenda Mathe says the discovery of the tablets was made earlier this week by authorities during an inspection of a cargo container that arrived from India.
"Upon a compliance verification of the unregistered medicines by the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority, authorities found that the company that had imported the medicines into the country had done so without the necessary written approval and authorisation."
Mathe says the police are working with authorities from India to establish the exact delivery address of the consignment.
"The latest confiscation of the unregistered medicines is the largest bust concerning the illegal importation of medicines, since the beginning of the year."
In January 2021, seven suspects were arrested for the illegal importation of unregistered medicine mostly found to be Ivermectin.
One person was arrested at the King Shaka International Airport while six others were arrested at OR Tambo International Airport.
Mathe says all seven accused have already appeared before the court and are currently out on bail.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the unregistered medicines had been imported for sale purposes, and would have been utilized in the treatment of the Covid-19 virus.
"The South African Police Service(SAPS) therefore draws the attention of pharmaceutical companies, including health experts to section 22(c) of the Medicines Act which clearly states that, anyone who wishes to import medicines into the country must have written authority from SAHPRA.
It should be further noted that those who do not comply with the Act will be apprehended and brought before a court of law to answer to illegal dealing and/or importation of unregistered medicines,"she adds.
