Nov 20, 2009
4 probed for illegal drugs
By Jessica Jaganathan
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FOUR people are being investigated here for peddling drugs illegally online in the past week during a sting operation to curb a growing online drug trade.
It was part of a global effort led by Interpol, the World Health Organisation and an international enforcement forum and was carried out over five days to weed out an increasing number of websites selling prescription drugs or health products containing ingredients of prescription drugs. Singapore was one of 24 countries which took part in 'Operation Pangea II'-which has snared 22 people worldwide so far this week. Out of 107 websites - forums, blogs, auction sites and online classified advertisements - screened here, four people have been caught selling drugs like slimming pills and oral contraceptives. This is the second time that Singapore is taking part in the concerted international effort against an illegal online drug trade. Last year, a smaller-scaled one-day operation caught one person selling Menergy M-Essence, a sexual dysfunction drug, and was let off with a warning. Prescription drugs commonly sold online could be counterfeit, and consequently offer little or no redeeming benefit for a sick person. In some instances, the fakes may pose a major danger to public health especially since it is difficult to verify the authenticity of the website, supplier or drugs sold online, said Mr Yee Shen Kuan, the division director of Health Sciences Authority (HSA)'s enforcement division.
4 probed for illegal drugs
By Jessica Jaganathan
<!-- end by line -->
FOUR people are being investigated here for peddling drugs illegally online in the past week during a sting operation to curb a growing online drug trade.
It was part of a global effort led by Interpol, the World Health Organisation and an international enforcement forum and was carried out over five days to weed out an increasing number of websites selling prescription drugs or health products containing ingredients of prescription drugs. Singapore was one of 24 countries which took part in 'Operation Pangea II'-which has snared 22 people worldwide so far this week. Out of 107 websites - forums, blogs, auction sites and online classified advertisements - screened here, four people have been caught selling drugs like slimming pills and oral contraceptives. This is the second time that Singapore is taking part in the concerted international effort against an illegal online drug trade. Last year, a smaller-scaled one-day operation caught one person selling Menergy M-Essence, a sexual dysfunction drug, and was let off with a warning. Prescription drugs commonly sold online could be counterfeit, and consequently offer little or no redeeming benefit for a sick person. In some instances, the fakes may pose a major danger to public health especially since it is difficult to verify the authenticity of the website, supplier or drugs sold online, said Mr Yee Shen Kuan, the division director of Health Sciences Authority (HSA)'s enforcement division.
