Man jailed for eight years for supplying fake drugs
Peter Gillespie of Berkshire, UK found guilty of all charges
A British man has been jailed for eight years for his role in supplying more than two million doses of fake medicines in the most serious case of counterfeit drugs getting into the UK supply chain.
Peter Gillespie, 64, from Windsor, Berkshire was found guilty of all charges at Croydon Crown Court after a four-month trial.
Four other men on trial for their involvement were acquitted, the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said.
The case, known as Operation Singapore, involved the infiltration of counterfeit medicine into the UK supply chain during a five-month period in 2007.
Although the MHRA seized more than half of the counterfeit drugs, almost 900,000 doses reached pharmacies and patients.
The MHRA immediately recalled Eli Lilly’s Zyprexa, sanofi-aventis’ Plavix and AstraZeneca’s Casodex and, as a result, a further 196,000 doses were recovered, however 700,000 doses were unaccounted for.
‘This outcome sends a clear message to those involved, or contemplating involvement in, the manufacture and supply of counterfeit medicines,’ said Mick Deats, MHRA Head of Enforcement.
‘This is serious criminal activity and puts people’s lives at risk. Our primary objective is to protect public health and we will not hesitate to take all appropriate action to eliminate the risks posed by counterfeit medicines and take action against those engaged in their supply,’ he added.