A 47-year-old Tooting man was jailed for three years in prison last month after pleading guilty to money laundering and selling unlicensed medicines. He was sentenced to three years in prison for money laundering offences and 12 months for the sale of unlicensed medicines. The sentences are to be served concurrently. He had pleaded guilty to offences under medicines, trade mark and money laundering legislation at Southwark Crown Court on 13th May.
Investigators from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) discovered evidence that the man had laundered over £114,000 as the ringleader in a conspiracy to receive and supply unlicensed medicines and distribute the proceeds of this offending across the UK.
MHRA’s head of enforcement, Alastair Jeffery said: “This case shows how organised criminal networks use sophisticated methods to import and supply counterfeit medicines from overseas. The group conducted an international operation to make money from unregulated products, and laundered over a hundred thousand pounds in the process. We have tirelessly tracked and monitored the group, demonstrating our determination to prevent them from recklessly endangering the safety of others. Unlicensed products are a serious safety risk to the public, and you should not let criminal enterprises play the lottery with your health. Visit your GP if you need treatment, and obtain prescription and pharmacy medicines from a legitimate high street store or online pharmacy.”
