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SINGAPORE - The sex drugs pasar malam (night market) was in full swing at around midnight earlier this year, with about 50 people milling around 15 illegal sex drugs peddlers in Geylang Road.
"Uncle, this one will make you strong," said a female peddler to an elderly man as he paused to look at the myriad multi-coloured pills.
Others beckoned to passers-by, saying: "Come over, cheap, cheap."
Each peddler had about 10 different illegal sex drugs laid out on plastic sheets on the pavement where they sat. They touted for business, just like at the pasar malams of old.
"Viagra, very cheap," they coaxed in a mixture of English and Mandarin.
From 2010 to last year, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) conducted more than 90 operations and raids against these vendors.
But despite this, the number of vendors seems to have increased.
"They've come back recently and there are more of them," said a taxi driver who wanted to be known only as Mr Tan.
The man, who is in his late 60s, is a regular at the coffee shop beside New Cathay Hotel.
Another coffee-shop patron, who declined to be named, agreed, saying: "When they first returned in 2009, there were maybe seven or more vendors."
One coffee-shop worker said: "Unless the police come, they (vendors) will be here till 3am every night."
Among the people gathered around the peddlers was a taxi driver - he was one of the 20 people seen buying the illegal sex drugs.
"I usually come here at night. The pills they sell here are really good," he said, pointing to the drugs packed in colourful boxes. The boxes appeared to be from China and had no English labels or instructions.
One customer said he takes fake Viagra pills regularly. The fake pills were selling for $10 each, less than half the price of the real thing. A bottle containing 30 tablets costs $50. Prices were negotiable.
He said: "I have been coming here many times and I am now friends with the vendors here."
Cheap risks
Although he is aware of the dangers of an adverse reaction from the illegal drugs, he is willing to take the risk as the pills are cheap and says he does not go overboard taking them.
Another customer agreed, saying: "It's cheaper, but I don't take it so often. Besides, I stick to the safer names like Viagra, which I don't think is so dangerous."
Another said: "Take one tablet and not more."
A HSA spokesman said it conducts regular surveillance and raids in the area to disrupt the supply of illegal medicines.
Such stringent enforcement is necessary, said the spokesman, because illegal sex drugs are harmful. They often are poorly manufactured and contain undeclared substances which can cause serious adverse effects.
Since 2008, illegal sex drugs like Power 1 Walnut, Santi Bovine Penis Erecting Capsule and Zhong Hua Niu Bian have been making the headlines.
That year, more than 200 men suffered from serious reactions to the drugs and 10 men, aged between 35 and 84, died. Those drugs were not seen at the pasar malam.
HSA said it has detected more than 200 brands of illegal sexual health products.
These products resurface for sale at different times by different peddlers, said the spokesman.
Between 2010 and last year, HSA received 24 cases of adverse drug reactions associated with the consumption of illegal sex drugs. One death was reported in 2010.
Dr Clarence Yeo, a general practitioner at Killiney Family and Wellness Clinic, said: "Licensed drugs are safer to use because they have gone through safety trials, but people turn to illegal drugs because they are cheaper and easily available."
But what goes into the fake drugs can cause problems.
For instance, fake Viagra pills may contain less or more than the required strength of sildenafil citrate concentrate - the main ingredient that controls blood flow in the penis tissue.
Said Dr Yeo: "These illegal drugs have no quality control during production, so they are unpredictable and could result in side effects that could be fatal."
Sex drugs and numbers
Sex drugs and numbers
Enforcement statistics on sexual enhancement drugs (from 2010 to2012)
Number of major operations:
More than 90
Number of individuals convicted:
20
Number of products seized:
Around 2 million
Estimated street value:
Around $5 million
Types of illegal sexual enhancement products in the market (based on seizures):
Around 200 products
Persons found selling illegal health products, such as Africa Black Ant, Huang Wei Lu Rong, Qiang Jin Wei Ge Wang and De Guo Hei Jin Gang, may be charged with contravening the Medicines and Poisons Acts.
Those convicted can be fined up to $5,000 and/or jailed two years under the Medicines Act and fined up to $10,000 and/or jailed two years under the Poisons Act.
Source: Health Sciences Authority
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