Record seizure of counterfeit medicines in Le Havre

The customs of Le Havre have early November to the seizure of nearly 410,000 counterfeit medicines such as "Cialis" and "Viagra", and nearly 11 million stamps that could allow the manufacture of drugs found in a container from Syria, it was learned from the Ministry of Budget. The value of these products is estimated at 5.8 million euros, told with customs. "This is the largest seizure ever made by sea in France," said Patrick Ollivier, Regional Director of Customs in Le Havre with the seizure Tuesday morning in the press. On the basis of a match made in late October by Customs Special CELTIC (cell study and fight against illicit trafficking in container) that customs officials have control of a container from Syria and destination of Honduras. On the spot, they found the container, bulk, in large white buckets, stamps blue, yellow and white. Pfizer quickly confirmed the forging of stamps blue, more than 50,000, copying the trademark "Viagra". The holder of the trademark "Cialis", the company Eli Lilly and Company has reached the same conclusions about 350,000 stamps yellow. The white pills were sent for analysis to laboratories common Customs and the Directorate General for Competition, Consumption and the Repression of Fraud (DGCCRF). Scientists have confirmed the high content of these pseudo-ephedrine, narcotic used in the synthesis of amphetamines. The two tons of stamps would have allowed the manufacture, processing, more than 474kg of methamphetamines, or 2.5 million doses, worth on the resale of tens of millions of euros. After analysis, before finalizing this loading took place in early November and a judicial inquiry was opened by the Tribunal de Grande Instance of Havre, said the Ministry of Budget. In a statement, the minister Eric Woerth commended the officers for their input Havre and the Directorate of Customs and Indi Roissy, who had conducted shortly before the seizure of 200,000 tablets infringing the trademark Viagra, worth estimated at 3 million. These goods came from India and was bound for Santo Domingo. In 2007, French customs seized 781,761 counterfeit medicines. The announcement of the transaction agents of Havre occurs after the distribution of u release that Interpol has reported the seizure of counterfeit drugs worth 6.6 million dollars in China and in six countries of the South-East Asia. According to the International Criminal Police Organization, more than 16 million fake pills were discovered during the extensive operation, including drugs against malaria and tuberculosis. Have also been seized of anti-HIV drugs and antibiotics. Interpol said in a statement Monday that 27 people had been arrested in connection with this transaction which took place from April 15 to 15 September with support from Interpol and the World Health Organization (WHO) and the World Customs Organization. In total, nearly 200 raids were conducted by the police. The countries involved are China, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.