Illegal stash: A CPF staff member showing some of the unregistered traditional health products seized in raids, at a press conference held at a factory in Simpang Ampat. — ZHAFARAN NASIB/The Star
BUKIT MERTAJAM: A major syndicate behind the sale and manufacturing of illegal traditional health products worth RM24mil was busted in a raid by the Penang Health Department.
State Health director Datuk Dr Fazilah Shaikh Allaudin said the products were confiscated from 13 premises out of a total of 19 raided by the department’s Pharmacy Enforcement Division (CPF) and assisted by the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) and the police.
She said inspections were conducted based on public complaints and intelligence gathering.
Five men, including two foreign nationals, aged between 34 and 60, were arrested.
Dr Fazilah said the confiscated items comprised 88,000 finished products, more than 500 packages of raw materials suspected to contain scheduled poisons, over 23,000 semi-finished products, two digital devices and 36 machines.
“Among the items seized were unregistered traditional Chinese medicines suspected to contain prohibited substances such as steroids, paracetamol, allopurinol and other ingredients listed under the Poisons Act 1952.
“Most of the products were used as painkillers and for treatment for conditions such as gout, and were sold in the market for about RM20 per box,” she said at a press conference held at a factory in Simpang Ampat yesterday.
She said the discovery of the unregistered health products is an offence under Regulation 7(1)(a) of the Control of Drugs and Cosmetics Regulations 1984 and is punishable under Section 12 of the Sale of Drugs Act 1952, where an individual can be fined up to RM25,000, jailed a maximum three years, or both.
If it involves a company, the fine can reach RM50,000.
It is also an offence under Section 13A of the Poisons Act 1952 and is punishable under Section 32(2) of the same Act, which carries a maximum fine of RM50,000, imprisonment of up to five years, or both.
National CPF director Mohd Zawawi Abdullah said the syndicate has been operating since 2020, using the modus operandi of splitting manufacturing processes across different locations to avoid detection.
He said one of the suspects is a 34-year-old mastermind who coordinated operations while the others were workers and relatives of the suspect.
Mohd Zawawi said other syndicate members are believed to be at large.
The Health Ministry has introduced awareness campaigns such as “Tolak Ubat Tidak Sah”, known as TOBaTS, to improve public knowledge on the risks associated with the use of illegal health products.
Further information on TOBaTS can be found on the website pharmacy.moh.gov.my/tobats.
Sellers and distributors are reminded to act responsibly by ensuring only health products registered with a MAL number and bearing the PharmaTech security hologram are handled.
Members of the public are advised to verify the registration status of health products via the NPRA website at www.npra.gov.my under the product search section.
The public is encouraged to channel complaints or information related to the sale of suspicious medicines or health products through any of the following channels: the SISPA complaints portal, the hotline at 04-229 2319, or any pharmacy enforcement branch.
