The NAS Carabinieri seized 121 medicines of foreign origin, mainly Chinese, without authorization and evaluation of therapeutic validity and the absence of side effects, allegedly intended for the treatment of Covid-19.
The seizure is part of a broad strategy coordinated with the Ministry of Health. The investigations by the NAS, which had led to an initial phase of interventions with the identification of 107 thousand illegal products in cultural associations, ethnic supermarkets and customs areas for the transit of goods and passengers between Rome, Milan and Florence, continued to monitor the possible existence of other hidden distribution channels.
Thus, in the last week, new seizures were made by the NAS of Milan, Rome, Naples, Turin, Florence and Parma, intercepting further illicit situations relating to the 'under the counter' sale of medicines at ethnic herbalist shops, neighborhood shops and even a musical instrument shop in Rome, hosting a cultural association. In the context of 9 inspections, the possession of a further 14.300 pharmaceutical products was found, contained in packages, vials, blisters and sachets, without authorization for placing on the European market and subject to clandestine importation, of which 13 thousand with indications for the treatment or prevention of Covid, such as Lianhua Qingwen Jiaonang, Zhongyao Peifang Keli and Ganmao Qingre Keli.
To date, the operations conducted by the NAS throughout the national territory have allowed the interruption of numerous underground commercial networks both of drugs, presumably intended for foreign communities present in Italy, and of medical devices for a wider range of users, reporting a total of 19 people to the judicial authorities.
In the same operational context, the NAS of Milan, Turin and Parma also seized 15.100 syringe needles, 245 pulse meters and oximeters, 170 laser thermometers and 350 face masks declared as having a high level of protection (FFP2/3), all of which were found to lack CE certification and adequate safety information in Italian. Overall, the seized products would have generated undue profits estimated at over 250 thousand euros, without prejudice to the potential health risk determined by the intake of drugs or presumed drugs without control and without guarantees on correct production and conservation.
Article published on 6 February 2021 - 08:17
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