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LOCAL PHARMACIES DISTANCE THEMSELVES FROM SEX PILLS

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MBABANE – The owner of the E20.6 million sexual enhancement pills that were seized at OR Tambo International Airport still remains unknown.


This is because while it was reported that the consignment was destined for Swaziland, none of the local pharmaceutical distributors and wholesalers know about the pills.
Most of the distributors who were called by this newspaper made it known that they did not know who the owner of the pills was.


“There is no way that they can belong to us because we always notify the Ministry of Health before importing any of our pharmaceuticals. The ministry, through its chief pharmacists, is the one that authorises our shipment and it is our mandate to follow all procedures,” said a female staffer at Swazi Pharm, who asked not to be named.


She highlighted that it was the South African Revenue Services (SARS) that should know the owner.
“While they claimt the consignment was destined for Swaziland, the basic truth is that they must also know the name of the recipient,” she said. The Swazi Med Centre was also called on the issue and the management said they had no connection with the pills.


SARS spokesperson Sandile Memela reiterated his statement which was carried in yesterday’s publication that the matter was being dealt with by the police in that country.
When asked if they had any idea of the actual owner, Memela said their policy did not allow them to reveal names of people.


“We cannot divulge that kind of information because it would compromise the work of the police. If we divulge names of people then they will be on the run in order to avoid being arrested,” he said.
In yesterday’s publication, Memela was quoted saying that the shipment had been handed over to the Medicines Control Council (SA) for further investigation.


Called to determine if the council had given feedback, Ministry of Health Chief Pharmacist, Fortunate Bhembe said nothing had been communicated to them.
She mentioned that she enquired from the council but was told that her office would be informed once there was information.


According to the South African media, the bust happened on Sunday and the shipment at the transit sheds contained 80 000 tablets and 126 000 oral jellies‚ wrapped in brown sacks from Mumbai‚ India.
It was reported that the tablets were restricted and controlled substances that needed to have permits when being imported.

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