Zagreb, Croatia
27th April , 2010
“Counterfeit Pharmaceuticals”
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Overview of the presentation……
 The dangers to society
 The scale of the problem worldwide?
 How can industry help you?
 What are the criminal structures involved?
Counterfeıt Medıcınes can Kıll!
Marcia Bergeron, 58,
from Vancouver,
Canada who was found
dead in her bed in
December 2006.
Reported that Vancouver Island coroner, Rose Stanton
said, “We had no reasonable cause of death, and she
was of an age where sudden death might not be
expected. There was no evidence of suicide, foul play
or trauma.”
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Counterfeıt Medıcınes can Kıll!
December 2004 Argentina –
A 22 year old woman, Veronica Diaz, who
was pregnant, was injected with an iron
supplement at a public hospital. She died the
next day of acute liver failure.
The supplement was counterfeit!
Reported that 2 other women also died at the
same hospital and that a total of nine women
were injected with the product in the same
hospital.
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Counterfeıt & Illegal Medıcınes can Kıll!
This little boy and 83 other children
died when their parents gave them
what they thought was a baby
teething medicine called ‘My Pikin’,
which in fact contained diethylene
glycol used in anti-freeze.
NAFDAC & police authorities
have arrested 12 persons for
their involvement.
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Chinese Manufacturing Site
10 manufacturing lines
200 kilos API
400,000 finished tablets
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The scale of the problem worldwide
 The manufacturers are a vital cog in counterfeit medicine
investigations.
 In 1992 formed PSI, now 24 members.
Current Members
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Incident Trends
PSI Findings 2009 - Worldwide
• Key findings
 2,003 Incidents – up 9.2%
 1,693 Counterfeit incidents – up 6.8%
 118 countries impacted
 808 different drugs – up 36%
 1,468 arrests – up 60%
 48% of seizures are 1,000+ dosage units
 64 IPMFs raided in 18 countries
 531 cases entered the legal supply chain in 48 countries
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The scale of the problem worldwide
 The manufacturers are a vital cog in counterfeit medicine
investigations.
 In 1992 formed PSI, now 24 members.
 Cases worldwide are initiated by industry.
A case in a Member State
The Global Picture
Global Movement of Counterfeit Medicines & APIs
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Counterfeıt & Illegal Medıcınes can Kıll!
Buenos Aires, Argentina –
• May 2008 Sebastian Forza provided information
• July 2008 a clandestine factory was raided
• August 2008 Forza & 2 associates were murdered
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What does Organised Crime look like?
“Chinese counterfeit medicine
distributor sentenced to 6½ years in
US federal prison without parole.”
The counterfeits:
Plavix – Post operation blood clotting
Zyprexa – Schizophrenia
Casodex – Prostate cancer
Tamiflu - Flu
Aricept - Alzheimers
Kevin Xu, 36 years
Pacific Orient
International Ltd.
China.
Organised?
www.RxNorth
Canada
UK
US
China
Dubai
Bahamas
Hong Kong
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What does Organised Crime look like?
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Vincent K. Chabra
A 32 year, computer expert, living in Florida
Supplying a variety of medıcınes
Organisation
– Ten persons
– Five Doctors
FDA led, multi-agency investigation
108 counts on the indictment
Pleaded guilty
Assets of $125 million seized
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Asset stripping.
Luxury Condominium
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Asset stripping.
One of twelve homes seized
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Asset stripping.
Nineteen conveyances including “Canadair Challenger 600”
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Asset stripping.
Two Two of five Mercedes Benz autos
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Asset stripping.
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Task Force seizures
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Europe, Middle East & Afrıca Region
Thank you.
Ashley How
Director
Tel: +44 (0) 1903 779955
Mob: +44 (0) 7795 345600
Website: www.psi-inc.org
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