Dubai Customs seized a large amount of counterfeit medicine in a warehouse of a registered local company at the Dry Port in Dubai. The seizure comprises of 7 million pills of different medicine and is considered one of the largest seizures in the region.
H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed, Executive Chairman of Ports, Customs and Free Zone Corporation and Dubai Customs Director General issued a statement during a media conference Dubai Customs held Monday, May 31st, 2010 in its headquarters in the presence of H.E. JH Siberell, US Consul General in Dubai and a number of officials as well as media representatives.
H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed clarified in the statement that the seized medicine is locally prohibited as approved by the tests conducted on its samples and is of counterfeited sexual supplements which bear trademarks of international companies. The case is considered an infringement of legal protection of the companies owning such trademarks and a clear violation of the UAE health legislations which prevents selling this medicine unless a medical prescription is issued by a licensed human doctor- as per the ministerial decisions issued under the law of pharmacy profession and pharmaceutical institutions.
H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed said that the investigations conducted by Dubai Customs revealed that an employee working in the implicated company stored the medicine after receiving it from an Arab trader. He kept the haul on a quay at the Dry Port Customs Centre which belongs to the referred company, without notifying the manager of the company who was outside the UAE, in exchange of AED 3000 a month.
H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed pointed out that the case was transferred to the specialized authorities and at the same time confirmed Customs keenness to combat all attempts which threaten the UAE safety and economy and harm locals and residents’ public health besides protecting intellectual property rights of the registered trademarks of international companies as well as products and goods’ patent rights especially for medicine under the article 62 of the UAE federal law No 17/2002 which regulates and protects the industrial property of the patents.
H.E. Ahmed Butti Ahmed said:" I hereby affirm Dubai Customs persistence in taking every necessary action to protect IPR; now and in the future, achieving our vision towards being the leading Customs administration in the world supporting legitimate trade and providing an attractive business environment for all clients and stakeholders, serving our mission in enhancing economic development and protecting the society and anchoring our values and strategic goals.”
He also said that Dubai Customs will maintain its efforts to implement all the procedures which help enhance fair trade practices, facilitate smooth goods flow, movement of individuals across the borders without hurting the community security or public health as well as pursuing violators of the systems and laws and combating all smuggling attempts that harm the public interest. Adding to that, providing the cadres with ongoing training opportunities and equipping them with the most advanced technologies to help them perform their duties with the utmost competency.
H.E. Dubai Customs Director General expressed his appreciation to the Customs Intelligence employees for the proper handling of the information they received about this counterfeited medicine which played a major role in seizing it. He also praised Customs inspectors for their vigilance as they work night and day to secure the country and the great role of the IPR Department at Dubai Customs in this regard.