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BIRD FLU DRUGS SHIPPED INTO US CONTERFEIT
  by MONTANA NEWS ASSOCIATION

by Jim Kouri, CPP
Dec 21, 2005
With growing fears over a possible Avian Flu or Bird Flu pandemic, countries throughout the globe are stockpiling a drug believed to be capable of saving lives. However, a disturbing story is being told by officials from the US Customs and Border Protection directorate of the Department of Homeland Security -- counterfeit medicines.

CBP officers recently seized 51 shipments of counterfeit Tamiflu pills earmarked for several different importers in southern San Francisco, CA. Tamiflu is the drug being stockpiled throughout the world in response to the avian flu in the event of serious outbreaks. This is the first seizure of counterfeit Tamiflu pills in this nation, and each package contained approximately ten to fifty individual pills.

“Our CBP Officers are diligently working around the clock to keep our nation’ s citizens and residents safe from harmful products crossing our borders. Could you imagine what could happen if counterfeit avian flu medicine is being sent around the world and people are depending on it to keep themselves healthy? This seizure is an excellent find for the nation as a whole,” said San Francisco Director of Field Operations Nat Aycox.

CBP works in conjunction with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on importations of food and medication. An FDA official stated, “preliminary laboratory tests conducted by the FDA have found only trace amounts of active ingredients in these pills for Tamiflu.”

The pills were allegedly shipped from Asia and had been purchased via several different Internet sites. It appears that the purchases were made for personal use. This case is still under investigation by CBP and the FDA.