Following huge circulation in China in recent years, French customs announced on Thursday a huge seizure of fake Viagra and other contraband drugs in what's been dubbed the European Union's biggest-ever confiscation of counterfeit medicine.
2.4 million drugs were seized - from pills purporting to treat diarrhoea to fake aspirin tablets - hidden in two containers labeled as 'Chinese tea', at the port of Le Havre in late February, the customs office said in a statement.
A customs official also revealed that four brands, including pro-boner pills Viagra and Cialis, were counterfeited to be distributed widely.
When tested, the fake aspirin and anti-diarrhoea drugs were found to contain nothing but sugar, something of a relief considering the contents of several batches of other fake drugs in China. However, the erectile dysfunction drugs were found to contain an active ingredient, although the dose differed from the original product, the official said.
The shipment had a sale value of around 8.63 million yuan ($1.3 million) and had been imported from Belgium, although the intended market is not yet known.
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