Customs Seizes Drugs Sold Without Permit

Bandar Seri Begawan - Pharmaceutical drugs sold without a permit, including a slimming capsule that was banned by Brunei's Ministry of Health last December, were seized by officials from the Royal Customs and Excise Department following a tip-off from members of the public.

A 59-year-old woman has been summoned to the Preventive and Intelligence Section, Royal Customs and Excise Department to assist in the investigations pertaining to the seizure of drugs estimated to be worth RM 10,790.

Eleven officers from Preventive and Intelligence Section, as men as two officers from the Pharmaceutical Unit, .Ministry of Health inspected the shop in the capital Monday on complaints that it was selling pharmaceutical drugs without a permit from the ministry.

During the inspection, authorities confiscated 15 boxes of Amberine Capsules, 30 boxes SNE Capsules, one box of Kintop Capsules and nine boxes of Exel Tea. The items were seized under the notice of Customs seizure and the offender can be charged under chapter 140 of the Customs Order 2006.

Among the items that were confiscated was slimming capsule Kintop that was banned in December last year by the Ministry of Health. The capsules were found to contain Sibutramine.

Sibutramine is a slimming agent and long term consumption of the capsule may lead to high blood pressure, heart palpitation and insomnia, a press release from the ministry had stated. This substance cannot be used by individuals with a history of cerebrovascular disease or cardiovascular disorders such as cardiac arrythmias, heart failure, peripheral arterial occlusive disease, coronary and artery disease, it added.

It should also be avoided by individuals suffering from severe hepatic or renal impairment, the ministry had warned.

The Bulletin had reported on the banned pharmaceutical drug last February when it was found in the Brunei market. Malaysia's News Strait Times had reported that a 33year-old housewife, from Alor Setar, died from blood poisoning and kidney complications and her husband claimed that she took Kintop capsules.

According to reliable sources, Kintop capsules were sold in the market for $116. Further enquiries revealed that even though people knew of the dangers, they continued to use the capsules.

Under the Poisons Act (Chapter 114) it is an offence to import, sell or offer for sale any product containing a poison without prior licence issued by the Ministry of Health.

It is also an offence under the Poisons Act 1956 to sell any product containing any substance controlled under the Poisons Act and the penalty for such an offence, upon conviction is a fine of $8,000 or six months' jail.

The Preventive and Intelligence Section of the Royal Customs and Excise thanked the public for the information and urged those with knowledge on such activities to call their hotline number 2382422 or SMS to 8714422.-- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

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