TMDA intercepts smuggled medicines

DAR ES SALAAM: THE Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Authority (TMDA) has seized unregistered medicines and medical products worth about 360m/- at Julius Nyerere International Airport (JNIA), including drugs used to treat cancer, diabetes, epilepsy and hypertension.

The seizures involved a consignment of medicines and medical devices worth about 310m/- intercepted on Monday and another consignment of injectable medicines valued at about 50m/- seized yesterday, as the authority intensified efforts to stop illegal medical products from entering the country.

TMDA Director General Dr Adam Fimbo said the consignments were detected through the authority’s inspection and monitoring systems at the airport in collaboration with the Police and Customs authorities.

“Every item that arrives there is inspected by TMDA officers, working together with the Police and our colleagues from Customs,” Dr Fimbo told reporters in Dar es Salaam yesterday.

He said inspectors became suspicious after the luggage remained uncollected at the airport, prompting an inspection of one of the bags that revealed medicines hidden inside before officers searched the remaining luggage and seized the entire consignment.

“The seized products had not been registered in Tanzania, meaning their quality, safety and effectiveness had not been verified by TMDA,” he said.

Dr Fimbo further said preliminary investigations found that the shipment contained active pharmaceutical ingredients used in medicines for cancer, epilepsy, high blood pressure and diabetes, as well as Ozempic (Semaglutide) and other GLP-1 products associated with weight reduction.

“The consignment also included medical devices, including artificial dental products, the second consignment seized yesterday contained injectable medicines, including lignocaine, bupivacaine, adrenaline and vitamins,” he said.

Dr Fimbo said the seizures demonstrate the importance of strict controls at entry points, warning that unregistered medicines could expose patients to delayed recovery, drug resistance, disability and even death.

ALSO READ: TMDA strengthens drug safety oversight in fight against counterfeit medicines

“These products are being brought into the country illegally by people, groups and some unscrupulous traders who use various methods to make money illegally, without considering the serious consequences that may result,” he said.

He said TMDA had observed increasing attempts to smuggle medicines and medical products by concealing them in passenger luggage, parcels and other packages transported through aircraft and buses.

Dr Fimbo said importers of medicines, medical devices and laboratory reagents must obtain TMDA permits before bringing such products into the country, while inspectors verify permits, quantities and whether consignments match approved documentation.

He said the authority had strengthened enforcement by linking its inspection systems with those of the Tanzania Revenue Authority (TRA) to detect forged documents and consignments without permits.

TMDA has also steppedup intelligence-led and surprise inspections at airports, borders and ports while using modern equipment to screen medical products more effectively.

The authority is carrying out joint operations with the Police and the Drug Control and Enforcement Authority (DCEA) and conducting postmarketing surveillance by sampling medicines from shops, warehouses and health facilities to remove illegally imported or unregistered products from the market, according to him.

Dr Fimbo said TMDA was also working with regulatory authorities in other countries and INTERPOL to exchange information and trace illegal medical products from their countries of manufacture to their intended destinations.

He said investigations were continuing to identify and arrest those responsible for the seized consignments and dismantle the wider network behind the illegal trade.

“We warn traders to comply with the Tanzania Medicines and Medical Devices Act, Cap 219, saying offenders risk criminal prosecution, confiscation and destruction of illegal products at their own cost, heavy fines and cancellation of business licences,” he warned.