Seven arrests in UK illicit medicine case

The UK authorities have arrested seven men linked to the sale of unlicensed medicines following a series of raids in London and Slough.

During the raids investigators from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) also seized paperwork and computers from a number of addresses.

Those arrested are believed to be involved in the illegal import and sale of unlicensed medicines, including anabolic steroids and drugs for erectile dysfunction, slimming and hair loss, with the operation prompted by the interception of packages by UK customs.

In April, the MHRA said it had uncovered 150,000 unlicensed tablets with an estimated value of more than £500,000 from an apartment in west London. The medicines were said to have been stored in "filthy" conditions.

Alastair Jeffrey, the MHRA's Head of Enforcement said: "This has been a long and complex operation and the successful arrests show that we will not hesitate to take action against those we believe are involved in the illicit supply of medicines."