Dubai Customs thwarts an attempt of smuggle 107kg of unauthorized generic tablets

Dubai Customs, within its efforts towards controlling infiltration of prohibited goods, fake and counterfeited medicines, has recently thwarted an attempt to smuggle 100.000 generic tablets- weighing 107 kg, to the local use. The unregistered medicines have serious side-effects on health especially for the cardiac- disease patients

The inspection team at Dubai International Airport- Free Zone, during operating normal manual inspection, put a hand on suspected shipment coming from some European country, containing unidentified prescription of tablets without date of production. Accordingly, samples of the tablets were referred to the Department of Drug Control and Registration at the Ministry of Health because the medicines were within the list of the restricted goods which require permission from the competent authority in the country.   

 The report of the Ministry of Health revealed that the tablets are generic and not registered to import to the country for the local use and the seized quantity deemed commercial; besides, they pose serious health threats especially for the patients of heart diseases. 

 The importing company registered as a trading one but unauthorized to import medicines, it stored the medicines before clearing the goods, as was seen from the bill, for 50 days in one of its stores which was not proper for storage. 

 Mr. Omar Ahmed Almihairi, Senior Manager of Air Cargo Operation Dept at Dubai Customs learnt that the expiry date of the seized goods was printed in a separate sticker uncovering the real date of production and this is violating to the quality manufacturing practices, in addition to that, labels are easily movable. He reiterated that Dubai Customs is keen to realize its mission of protecting the community and individuals from such harmful products and combat all sorts of illegal trade. 

 Mr. Omar Almihairi stressed on the authorized companies to obtain import permissions from the Ministry of Health and the other competent agencies and must observe the ideal healthy environment for transportation and storage