A Berkshire-based couple have received prison sentences for the illegal possession and supply of unlicensed medicines, which included sexual dysfunction pills. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) were notified in 2020 of seizures of parcels containing unlicensed medicines, following an investigation of suspicious parcel activity by the Royal Mail Group (RMG).
The MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit launched an investigation and, supported by local police, arrested Karina Filimonova and Andrejs Stolarovs at their home in Maidenhead, where they were found to be in possession of over 1.3m pills of 65 different brands of medicines used for a range of conditions including sexual dysfunction, infertility, obesity, alcohol and opioid dependence, narcolepsy/ADHD, breast cancer and HIV. The medicines were estimated to be worth £1.6m on the illegal market.
Following the MHRA’s investigation, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) brought charges against Filimonova and Stolarovs, who pleaded guilty on 13th June 2023 at Southwark Crown Court. They were each sentenced to eight months imprisonment suspended for 18 months and 150 hours unpaid work for possession and intent to supply medicinal products contrary to the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
Andy Morling, MHRA deputy director of criminal enforcement, said: “This was a sophisticated operation illegally bringing unlicensed medicines into the UK from Singapore and India, and then distributing them across the country and abroad. Criminals trading in medicines illegally like this are not only breaking the law, but they also have no regard for your safety. These are powerful medicines that can lead to serious adverse health consequences if taken without appropriate medical supervision.
“We work hard to prevent, detect and investigate illegal activity involving medicines and medical devices to protect the public and defeat this harmful trade. Our Criminal Enforcement Unit will continue working to protect your health by disrupting this harmful trade and bringing dangerous offenders to justice.”
