Two brothers were sentenced at Leicester Crown Court, for the illegal sale and supply of unlicensed medicines.

After both pleaded guilty, Assad Hussain was given a £35,000 confiscation order, fined £1,000 and ordered to pay £4,000 in costs. Fraz Hussain received a conditional discharge for 12 months.

Investigations by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Leicester Trading Standards found that Fraz and Assad Hussain had been selling Pauinystalia Yohimbe, a sexual dysfunction drug labelled as Extensis, from their property via a number of websites.

The potential side effects of taking this unlicensed medication include tremors, dizziness, nervousness, anxiety, irritability and an increased heart rate.

In October 2006, a total of 4,414 containers of tablets were seized with an estimated street value of £132,420.

A further raid in January 2008 uncovered documentation to prove sales had continued during 2007. Records revealed an additional 45 containers valued at £2,137 had been sold between November and December 2007. A further 389 containers along with promotional material and leaflets were seized.

MHRA Head of Enforcement Mick Deats said, "This case highlights the reason why people should ensure that they only obtain their medication from legitimate outlets, for example, their doctor or pharmacist.

"There is a considerable risk to the public from obtaining medicines through unregulated websites as there is no guarantee about their safety, quality or indeed that they even work."

Leicester City Council's Trading Standards Officer Minaxi Patel said, "I hope that the sentences handed down send out the right message to those who profit from putting peoples lives at risk and that the public will realise that purchasing medicines in this manner can jeopardise their personal health."

Notes

1. Fraz (DOB 21/081974) and Assad Hussain (DOB 29/01/1970) were trading via websites from their address; 36 Hawarden Avenue, Leicester, LE5 4NN.

2. If an individual is convicted of offences under the Medicines Act 1968, they can be sentenced to a maximum of two years imprisonment and/or an unlimited fine.

3. Where appropriate, the MHRA will use the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 to determine whether or not benefits were accrued through criminal activity and will recoup illicit earnings if the individual is found guilty. In cases involving counterfeit medicines, the MHRA will use the Fraud Act or Trade Marks Act which both carry a maximum of 10 years imprisonment.

4. The public is advised that they should only take prescription-only medicines after an appropriate consultation with their GP. Only healthcare professionals can take into account risks and benefits associated with every medicine.

5. The Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) has introduced an internet pharmacy logo to help the public identify if a website is being operated by a bona fide pharmacy in Great Britain. More information is available on the Royal Pharmaceutical Society of Great Britain (RPSGB) website.

6. The MHRA undertakes covert surveillance and uses other intelligence tools at its disposal to monitor websites and take action as necessary.

Source
MHRA