Counterfeit Viagra is still big business, despite the attempts by the famous drug’s maker, Pfizer to shut down bogus operations online.  Much of the problem seems to stem from consumers purchasing prescription medication online.  Some of these operations are outside of the United States, which makes it difficult to impossible to track and shut them down.

 Even though the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has reported counterfeit Viagra as far back as 2003, on Tuesday the U.S Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) announced intellectual property rights investigations they performed in conjunction with the Department of Homeland Security (HLS).  The investigations cover all different types of counterfeit goods, and among those are counterfeit Viagra.

 According to the ICE, industry and trade associations estimate that counterfeiting and piracy costs the U.S. upwards of $250 billion per year.  Additionally the loss of American jobs are estimated to be as high as 750,000.

 One of the investigations was Operation Ocean Crossing:

    “Operation Ocean Crossing, the second joint U.S.-Sino law enforcement operation, resulted in the largest People’s Republic of China (PRC) seizure of counterfeit pharmaceuticals in that nation’s history. The joint investigation by ICE and Chinese law enforcement led to the service of two PRC federal search warrants and the arrest of 11 PRC nationals. ICE agents arrested the U.S. distributor in Shelton, Wash. The joint effort dismantled a major China-based transnational counterfeit pharmaceutical manufacture and distribution organization engaged in a worldwide distribution of counterfeit Viagra and Cialis, with proceeds estimated in the millions of dollars.”

 

 Aside from the economic effects are the potential health risks in taking a medication that is ineffective or may even contain hazardous materials.  In the case of Viagra, if you are taking a pill made of some unknown inert material your desired erectile function will likely be a no-show and your wallet none the fuller for your efforts.  In the case of a medically necessary medication for thyroid or blood pressure and other conditions, it can be dangerous and even deadly to take a fake pill.

 The FDA stated that in their investigation of online prescription drug purchases that websites did not typically require a prescription and that this may in part be part of the seduction of these purchase, along with dramatically low prices.  The FDA also contends that purchasing a prescription pharmaceutical this way is a very risky practice.  The FDA concluded that in general, a website can appear legitimate, but instead be a front for an illegal operation; therefore they are urging consumers to beware of unregulated Internet drug sellers because many of their products might not contain the correct ingredients and could contain toxic substances. Several drugs found in this survey require special monitoring by physicians or other health care professionals for potential adverse events and to ensure their effectiveness.

 The data was based on surveys conducted by the FDA from September 20