HSA Seizes 40,000 Units of Illegal Sexual Enhancement Products Worth $100,000 in Early Morning Geylang Raid
The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) raided streets and two apartments along Geylang Lorong 22 which were used as storage facilities for illegal sexual enhancement products. The early morning multi-agency operation led by HSA on Thursday, 6 June 2013, with officers from the Singapore Police Force (SPF) and the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA), resulted in 9 individuals being caught and about 40,000 units of products, with an estimated street value of $100,000, seized.
2 Preliminary investigations revealed that some of the units in the two apartments being used for lodging purposes were actually used as storage spaces for the illegal sexual enhancement products. The illegal products seized from the raid operation included many different brands such as counterfeit Viagra and Cialis, 狼神一号，and 黑金刚 (please refer to the Annex for photographs). Five males and 4 females are assisting in the investigations.
3 This raid is part of ongoing efforts by SPF and HSA to address the peddling of illegal sexual enhancement products in Geylang. Over the last four months, 22 operations were conducted which resulted in the seizure of more than 100,000 units of illegal sexual enhancement products with an estimated street value of $250,000. In total, 31 individuals comprising 24 men and 7 women were caught.
4 HSA takes a serious stand against such illegal activities that would harm public health and has been closely monitoring these activities in Singapore. Other than conducting operations on the ground to disrupt the illegal sales, HSA also rolled out a series of on-going public education campaign to raise public awareness on the health dangers of buying illegal products from dubious sources. This is aimed at reducing the demand for illegal health products through pro-active educational efforts. More information can be found at www.healthdangers.sg.
5 HSA would like to reiterate the dangers of purchasing health products from dubious sources like street peddlers, make shift stalls and over the Internet. They often contain undeclared potent substances that can cause serious harm when taken without medical supervision. “Consumers should be sceptical when approached by peddlers offering sexual enhancement products with miraculous claims. You will not know what these products contain and how they are manufactured. We have seen many cases where people fell seriously ill, developed long term disability and even died from taking these illegal health products. We strongly urge consumers not to purchase products from peddlers and put their life and health at risk,” said Associate Professor Chan Cheng Leng, Deputy Group Director of HSA's Health Products Regulation Group.
6 As the illegal sexual enhancement products often contain substance(s) controlled under the Poisons Act, HSA would like to highlight that it is an offence for an unlicensed person to import, sell or possess for sale any product containing these substances. Anyone found guilty of an offence under the Poisons Act is liable to a fine of up to $10,000 and/or imprisonment for a term of up to two years.
7 Members of the public are encouraged to report any illegal activity involving sexual enhancement products to the Enforcement Branch of HSA at Tel: 68663485 or email: hsa_is@hsa.gov.sg during office hours (Monday to Friday) or email: hsa_is@hsa.gov.sg.
HEALTH SCIENCES AUTHORITY
6 JUNE 2013
Download pdf version here511 KB
Consumer, Healthcare professional, Industry member
Published:
Press Releases