1ST LEAD: Police bust syndicate selling fake drugs on internet

Deutsche Presse Agentur
Published: Friday September 22, 2006

Hong Kong- A Hong Kong man has been arrested after customs' police in Hong Kong and the United States smashed a transnational syndicate selling fake drugs via the internet, police said Friday. The man, aged 27, is alleged to have been behind the sale and distribution of 400,000 fake tablets, purported to be mainly Viagra and Cialis erectile-dysfunction drugs, with a value of 4.4 million US dollars.

He was arrested Thursday at Hong Kong hotel where he had arranged to meet undercover agents posing as potential buyers.

A Hong Kong customs' spokesman said agents had worked closely with their US counterparts on the case, which highlighted a global problem of fake pharmaceuticals.

© 2006 DPA - Deutsche Presse-Agenteur