Illegal sex drugs worth $100k seized

Illegal sex drugs worth $100k seized
The pills seized included counterfeit Viagra, Cialis and drugs with undeclared medicinal ingredients.
PHOTO: Illegal sex drugs worth $100k seized

SINGAPORE - Illegal sexual enhancement tablets worth $100,000 were seized during a raid at Geylang Lorong 22 on the morning of June 6.

Officers from the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), Immigration and Checkpoints Authority and police found 40,000 pills, which included counterfeit Viagra and Cialis and drugs which had undeclared medicinal ingredients.

They raided two apartments and found that they were used to store the products. They also nabbed peddlers on the street.

Five men and four women were arrested and investigations are ongoing.

It is the largest haul of illegal sexual enhancement products this year and is part of ongoing efforts by the HSA and police to address the problem of peddling of such products in Geylang, which is known for its red-light district.

Since March, there have been 22 operations in which more than 100,000 tablets - with an estimated black market value of $250,000 - were seized.

So far, 24 men and seven women have been arrested.

The HSA has launched a series of public education campaigns to raise awareness of the health dangers of buying such illegal products from "dubious sources".

Associate Professor Chan Cheng Leng, deputy group director of the HSA's health products regulation group, said: "We have seen many cases where people fell seriously ill, developed long-term disability and even died from taking these illegal health products."

Anyone found guilty of importing, selling or possessing such products to sell them may be jailed up to two years, fined up to $10,000, or both.

Members of the public can call the enforcement branch of HSA on 6866-3485 if they spot any illegal activity involving sexual enhancement drugs.

limyihan@sph.com.sg


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