Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Conduct Intensive Investigation into Illegal Medicine Distribution and Sales by Pharmaceutical Wholesalers

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hoon] The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit will conduct an intensive investigation into illegal medicine distribution and sales from March 7 to March 18.

The investigation targets 335 pharmaceutical and veterinary medicine wholesalers authorized under the Pharmacists Act within the province.

The main investigation focuses include ▲lending or borrowing of pharmacist licenses ▲display and sale of expired medicines ▲storage of medicines in warehouses without temperature and humidity control during the distribution process ▲sale of prescription veterinary medicines without prescriptions from veterinarians ▲opening and selling medicine containers.

According to the Pharmacists Act, lending or borrowing a pharmacist license is subject to imprisonment of up to five years or a fine of up to 50 million won.

Selling medicines past their expiration dates or storing and displaying them for sales purposes, as well as selling prescription veterinary medicines without prescriptions from veterinarians, are each subject to imprisonment of up to one year or a fine of up to 10 million won.

Kim Min-kyung, head of the Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit, stated, "Failure to properly manage medicine distribution can cause serious harm to residents' health. We will pursue criminal charges against businesses found to be in violation and take strong punitive measures in accordance with relevant laws."

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police Unit is receiving reports of illegal activities from residents through its website (www.gg.go.kr/gg_special_cop) or the Gyeonggi Province Call Center (031-120).