E-DRUG: Massive Seizures of Fake Drugs in 23 African Ports
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More than 1 billion illicit products seized in 10 days, including 550 million medicines
Wall Street Journal
PARIS, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/
-- A customs operation of an unequalled scale was carried out in April of this year in 23 African countries. More than one billion articles and in particular 550 million doses of illicit, potentially dangerous if not deadly medicines were intercepted including: antibiotics, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, medicines for high blood pressure and diabetes and food supplements. The total value of the medicines collected is estimated at more than $275 million US Dollars. These results reveal the extent of the traffic of illicit medicines in Africa and the danger this poses to the health of people across the African continent.
Operation BIYELA was organized by the World Customs Organization (WCO) in partnership with the Institute of Research Against Counterfeit Medicines (IRACM). The customs administrations of Algeria, South Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and Togo participated in the operation.
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http://online.wsj.com/article/PR-CO-20130613-908669.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
Best regards,
Lombe Kasonde
PSM Consultant
Washington, DC
U.S.A.
Lombe Kasonde <lkasonde@gmail.com>