Especially erectile stimulants in illegally imported medicines
Published: Thursday, Feb 8th 2024, 12:20
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Erectile stimulants are the most frequently illegally imported medicines, followed by sleeping pills and tranquillizers. Almost half of illegal imports come from India. Swissmedic warns of health risks, especially when ordering online.
These "medicines" imported from abroad often contain no or incorrectly declared active ingredients, as the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products Swissmedic wrote in a press release on Thursday.
The authority regularly warns against obtaining medicines from dubious sources - especially online stores - as this both endangers your health and supports criminal networks. In addition, the safe use of prescription medicines requires personal specialist advice beforehand.
Of the 6,659 illegal imports of medicinal products seized last year by the Federal Office for Customs and Border Security (FOCBS) on behalf of the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products Swissmedic, almost 3,000 came from India, according to a statement issued by the Confederation on Thursday. However, the countries of dispatch and manufacture of the illegal products are constantly changing.
The simplified procedure was used for 90 percent of the seized illegal shipments of medicinal products: it allows Swissmedic and the FOCA to withdraw certain preparations and active substances, especially illegal erectile stimulants, slimming products and psychotropic drugs, from circulation and destroy them in order to protect the health of the customers.
The Federal Office for Customs and Border Security conducted nine criminal proceedings and made 263 reports to the cantonal authorities regarding illegal imports of medicines containing narcotics.
©Keystone/SDA
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