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Customs, CDDRA in hi-tech detection of medicinal drug smuggling
View(s):An online system connecting Customs and Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Regulatory Authority (CDDRA) is to be set up to share updated information real time, to streamline detection of illegal drug imports. Further, the CDDRA intends to charge errant importers under the Cosmetics, Devices and Drugs Act No. 27 of 1980, in addition to the charges under the Customs ordinance as well.
The move comes after the Customs detected Rs 2 million worth of medicinal drugs smuggled into the country without CDDRA approval.
The consignment of 51 packages of illegal medicines, including a drug commonly used to induce abortion, were seized by Customs officials at the Bandaranaike International Airport (BIA) last week.
The CDDRA said they are unable to confirm if the same importer has been importing such medicines before, as this was the first time that such a consignment of illegal medicines were detected by the Customs.
“We had a meeting with the Customs on Friday and we will probe for any previous imports. The importer was not a registered medicinal drugs importer,” CDDA Director, Dr Amal Harsha de Silva told the Sunday Times.
“They did not even have a licence to transport and store the drugs”
“The culprit who is from Colombo 14, had declared the consignment as Vitamins and paid only Rs 14, 496 in taxes. However, on examination, it was found that there were illegal drugs such as Killpreg (4,500 strips) used for abortions, Festol (900 strips), Tranzex50 (about 10,000 strips), Mucomix and Hisone 10, among the consignment imported from Chennai, India. Some of the drugs are allegedly abused by schoolchildren as recreational drugs,” said Customs Media Spokesman/Director (Legal), Leslie Gamini.
However, the CDDRA is not aware of such trends, claimed Dr De Silva. “Further, the authority is currently considering the possible registration of Mifepristone based drugs for use in abortions, in restricted circumstances,” he said.
“The Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists have written to us requesting the registration of the drug, which we have already referred to the expert committee for their recommendation,” Dr De Silva explained.
According to the Head of the Dept. of Gynaecology, University of Colombo, Prof. Hemantha Senanayake, supervised medical usage of the drug is relatively safe, with many applications in the field of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. These applications include treatment of haemorrhage after childbirth, miscarriages (as an alternative to a ‘womb wash’) and induction of labour in the presence of dead foetus. “Further, the drug is also in the WHO ‘Essential Drugs’ register, and is licensed in most parts of the world.
“The Sri Lanka College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists has been pressing for its registration and use in Sri Lanka, particularly for treating haemorrhage. The resistance and reluctance to register it is because this country has restrictive abortion laws, and this is a drug used for this purpose as well,” Prof. Senanayake explained.
He also highlighted that individuals who research self medication methods for abortion related issues, are often culprits who seek to procure the drug sans doctors’ prescriptions.