HEALTH authorities have seized around 500 illegal sex stimulants worth RM4.4 million from 24 locations nationwide – 17 of them in Penang.
The total value of the illegal drugs seized there was RM3.9 million.
Penang Health Services Department director Datuk Dr Fazilah Shaik Allaudin told the press that the raid was due to over 12 months of intelligence gathering and surveillance.
Fazilah said the illegal drugs were used to treat impotence and other forms of sexual dysfunction.
Nine suspects aged between 25 and 50, including the alleged masterminds and workers, were detained temporarily because the ministry was not empowered to arrest them.
They were investigated under the Pharmaceutical Act, National Poisons Act, Controlled Drugs Act, and Pharmaceutical Act (Advertising and Sales) for selling the drugs via an e-commerce portal.
The Health Ministry is finalising investigations, and the suspects will be charged soon. They will face a maximum fine of RM100,000 or five years’ imprisonment, or both, for most of the offences.
The ministry’s pharmacy enforcement division director Mohd Zawawi Abdullah said the ministry required special security labelling on most medication sold through registered doctors and pharmacies.
“All the consumers/patients need to know is to scan the meds to verify if it is sanctioned and (whether) there are side effects.”
Since the beginning of 2024, Zawawi’s division has screened 15,000 online promotions for medication. Last year, 25,000 were screened.
Zawawi admitted that it was difficult to track the online sale of illegal medication since the sellers could use fake identities to conceal their activities. – August 6, 2024.
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