The World Customs Organization (WCO) and the Institute of Research Against Counterfeit Medicines (IRACM) issue a new warning about the health and safety of African populations

PARIS, June 13, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- A customs operation of an unequalled scale was carried out in April of this year in 23 African countries.  More than one billion articles and in particular 550 million doses of illicit, potentially dangerous if not deadly medicines were intercepted including: antibiotics, painkillers, anti-inflammatory drugs, medicines for high blood pressure and diabetes and food supplements. The total value of the medicines collected is estimated at more than $275 million US Dollars. These results reveal the extent of the traffic of illicit medicines in Africa and the danger this poses to the health of people across the African continent.

• More than 1 billion illicit products seized in 10 days, of which 550 million were medicines.

Operation BIYELA was organized by the World Customs Organization (WCO) in partnership with the Institute of Research Against Counterfeit Medicines (IRACM). The customs administrations of Algeria, South Africa, Angola, Benin, Cameroon, Democratic Republic of Congo, Republic of Congo, Djibouti, Ivory Coast, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Senegal, Tanzania and Togo participated in the operation.

The results are alarming. More than one billion counterfeit or illicit products were discovered inside 145 containers. The Democratic Republic of Congo and Togo are the countries where the most significant results were attained in terms of volume. The majority of intercepted shipments originated from East and South Asia and the Middle East. "Operation BIYELA has brought irrefutable proof of the major role that customs play in protecting consumers," declared Kunio Mikuriya, Secretary General of the WCO. "Apart from the interception of dangerous products, this international operation allows us to gather precious intelligence on the traffic of these products, and therefore reinforce our inspections," he added. "The success of customs in only 10 days and at 23 African ports provides a horrifying idea of the scourge that the traffic of fake medicines represents on this continent. It is time that all national and international authorities mobilize to protect the life of patients," declared Jacques Franquet, Director of the IRACM.

• Agents trained to recognize counterfeit medicines.

To prepare for the operation, customs agents were trained to recognize the technical characteristics of products likely to be counterfeited, as well as risk-analysis techniques. The training was provided by the WCO with the support of the IRACM, Institute of Research Against Counterfeit Medicines and experts of the concerned industrial sectors, such as the pharmaceutical sector. 

This advanced training was provided with the help of the IPM (Interface Public Members), a tool developed by the WCO that provides fast detection of counterfeited items. The IPM contains key information on the branded products supplied by the licensees (photos, technical description, transport itinerary, packaging characteristics, contact people for the brand in question, etc.) and is accessible to customs agencies 24 hours a day.

Operation BIYELA had several objectives:

• Detect new vectors and new fraud techniques in order to put into place adapted means to fight the scourge,
• Train custom experts in new risk analysis techniques and targeting,
• Encourage customs agents to use the IPM system in real situations,
• Identify the types of counterfeit products and evaluate their risk potential,
• Mobilize the actors in the fight, notably the licensees and the regulatory agencies, so that they support and cooperate with customs.

The results presented in this press release are preliminary; all the data concerning the interceptions has not yet been communicated.

About the World Customs Organization (WCO) is the only intergovernmental organization exclusively specialized in customs issues. With members in countries around the world, the WCO is today the voice of the international customs community. The WCO is renowned for its work in drafting international customs norms, simplifying and harmonizing customs regimes, for supply chain logistics security, facilitating exchanges, fighting against fraud, the public-private partnership, promoting ethics, and durably reinforcing customs capabilities. In addition, the WCO manages the international merchandise nomenclature of the harmonized system and the technical aspects of the WCO Accord on customs evaluations and on the rules of origin.

For more information visit: www.wcoomd.org.  

About the Institute of Research Against Counterfeit Medicines (IRACM)

A non-profit association, the Institute of Research Against Counterfeit Medicines (IRACM) was created in October 2010. Its mission: to raise public and authorities awareness concerning the scourge that counterfeit medicines represents, to train the committed actors in the fight against fake medicines, to centralize knowledge, good practices and know-how and to serve as a proactive interlocutor and advisory body proposing advice and solutions to national and international political and judiciary authorities. After more than two years, the IRACM has trained more than one thousand senior customs managers, police and health agencies among 50 different nationalities, and it has raised awareness among thousands of people about the dangers of fake medicines.

For more information visit: www.iracm.com.

U.S. Media Contact: Helena Brantley, Red Pencil PR + Marketing
510.316.3545 or [email protected]

SOURCE Institute of Research Against Counterfeit Medicines (IRACM); World Customs Organization (WCO)