Million doses of counterfeit medicines seized

More than 1m doses of counterfeit or suspect medicines and health supplements destined for public consumption were seized by authorities last year in their biggest annual haul to date.

Sedatives accounted for two thirds of the seizures and GPs warned it is further evidence of a growing problem of addiction to tranquilisers and anti-anxiety drugs and the lucrative black market that feeds it.

However, the haul also included erectile dysfunction products, illegal cosmetics, anabolic steroids, slimming pills, and pain relief products that were unlicensed, substandard, or fake. They were at best ineffective and, at worst, dangerous.