By Riyasbabu
4 July 2007, Khaleej Times
DUBAI — Dubai Customs have seized fake medicines worth Dh5 million during an operation carried out at Cargo Village recently, a Customs official said yesterday.
The shipment of counterfeit Plavix, pills used for treatment of cardiac ailments, were shipped to Dubai from Mauritius, Dubai Customs Director-General Ahmed Butti Ahmed, said.
The confiscated shipment, Ahmed said, contained 556,000 Plavix pills packed in 20,000 boxes. "This is region's one of the biggest counterfeit confiscation," he pointed out.
Perfect design
The design of the medicine box, Ahmed added, was perfectly counterfeited. "We sent the pills to a laboratory and tests proved that all were fake. The importers of the shipment were arrested. The case has been referred to Public Prosecution," Ahmed said. However, he denied divulging the number of people arrested in this regard. Plavix tablets, manufactured by French Company Sanofi-Aventis, are sold in Dubai for Dh292 per box.
Cement powder
Ahmed continued: "The composition of fake products seized was totally different from the original medicine manufactured by the French Company. It had cement powder content. It would have been a disaster if we had not traced it."
Ahmed urged consumers to be careful while buying medicines and stressed that Dubai Customs was keen to protect the society from these kinds of dangers.
"Dubai Customs is keen on protecting the interests of companies and investors. We are committed to implementing the international agreements and federal laws of the UAE. Dubai is turning out to be an international centre for combating counterfeits," Ahmed added.
Ruling out the allegations that Dubai has been used to transport counterfeit currencies and arms, Ahmed said, "This is a baseless allegation. Some people want to hide their limitations and they are forging such allegations."
French Ambassador to the UAE Patrice Paoli, who was also present on the occasion, said, "We are appreciating the efforts of Dubai Customs and other authorities. It shows that Dubai is committed to protect intellectual property rights."
"Confiscation of counterfeits of French products will enhance the cooperation between Dubai and French authorities," he added. Meanwhile, statistics shows that Dubai Customs confiscated 23,643 pieces of fake products valued at over Dh7 million, and issued 81 confiscation reports in the first quarter of this year. During the same period in 2006, Dubai Customs had seized 353,711 pieces of fake products and issued 65 confiscation reports.
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