Wadhurst cottage raided as part of £15.8million fake and unlicensed medicines probe

Fake and unlicensed medicines siezed

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A cottage in Wadhurst has been raided in an investigation into a global illegal diet pills trade.

Police siezed around £40,000 of pills from the three-bedroom cottage last week.

It is thought the pills were imported from China and sent to customers, who had bought them online, using the Post Office on Wadhurst High Street.

Officials believe the cottage was acting as a distribution centre for a website selling the 'herbal' diet pills.

The exact address of the cottage has not yet been released.

The pills seized were among £15.8 million worth of counterfeit and unlicensed medicines and devices seized by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency in the U.K. on Thursday.

The seizures – the biggest recorded to date in the UK - include huge quantities of illegally supplied and potentially harmful slimming pills, erectile dysfunction tablets, anaemia tablets and narcolepsy tablets.

Unlicensed foreign medicines and fake condoms were also found and removed.

MHRA Head of Enforcement, Alastair Jeffrey, said: "Operation Pangea is the global response to internet-facilitated medicines and devices crime.

"As a result of our intelligence-led enforcement operations we have seized £15.8 million worth of counterfeit and unlicensed medicines and 15,000 devices in the UK alone – which is almost twice as much as we recorded last year, and clear evidence that this is a growing concern that has to be taken seriously.

"Criminals involved in the illegal supply of medical products through the internet aren't interested in your health - they are interested in your money and are able to get this by selling you a potentially dangerous product, or by stealing your bank details.

"To protect your health, visit your GP, get a correct diagnosis and buy medicines from a legitimate high street or registered pharmacy which can trade online."

Source: Wadhurst cottage raided as part of £15.8million fake and unlicensed medicines probe