Gyeonggi Special Judicial Police Conduct Intensive Crackdown on Illegal Activities of Pharmaceutical Wholesalers

[Asia Economy (Suwon) = Reporter Lee Young-gyu] Gyeonggi Province is launching a focused crackdown on illegal activities related to the distribution and sale of pharmaceuticals.

The Gyeonggi Province Special Judicial Police for Public Welfare announced on the 3rd that from the 7th to the 18th of this month, they will conduct an intensive investigation into illegal activities involving the distribution and sale of pharmaceuticals targeting 335 licensed pharmaceutical wholesalers and veterinary drug wholesalers in the province, in accordance with the Pharmaceutical Affairs Act.

The main investigation items include ▲ lending or borrowing pharmacist licenses ▲ displaying or selling expired pharmaceuticals ▲ storing pharmaceuticals in warehouses without temperature and humidity control devices during the distribution process ▲ selling veterinary drugs without prescriptions from veterinarians ▲ opening packaging containers of pharmaceuticals for sale, among others.

Under the current Pharmaceutical Affairs Act, lending or borrowing a pharmacist license is punishable by imprisonment of up to 5 years or a fine of up to 50 million won. Selling or storing expired pharmaceuticals for sale, or selling prescription veterinary drugs without a veterinarian's prescription, is punishable by imprisonment of up to 1 year or a fine of up to 10 million won, respectively.

Kim Min-kyung, head of the Special Judicial Police Unit, stated, "If pharmaceutical distribution management is not properly controlled, it can seriously harm the health of residents." She added, "Companies found violating the law will be criminally charged and severely punished according to relevant laws and regulations."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.