Police have detained 22 people in an Istanbul-based operation across 11 provinces over allegations that expired cancer medicines were repackaged and put back on the market, Justice Minister Akın Gürlek announced on Monday, BirGün, Cumhuriyet and ANKA news agency reported.
How the alleged scheme worked
According to the minister’s statement, posted on his social media account, the boxes and packaging of cancer drugs whose expiry dates had passed were replaced and the medicines were sold again both in Türkiye and abroad. The outlets did not report which medicines were involved or where they were sold.
The investigation is being run by the Bakırköy Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office in Istanbul, and the operation was carried out by the Istanbul Provincial Police Directorate.
Suspects and assets
Investigators identified 24 suspects, three of whom are public officials, along with four companies and five workplaces, the three outlets reported. Twenty-two suspects were detained and efforts to find the remaining two are continuing.
Financial checks found that the suspects and companies had a total transaction volume of about 650 million lira, which did not match their declared commercial activity, according to the statement. Vehicles, real estate and bank accounts were seized.
Gürlek said there would be no tolerance for those who endanger patients’ lives and turn hopes of recovery into a source of unfair gain, BirGün and ANKA reported.
We have previously reported on Antalya doctors’ warnings about counterfeit botox products.
Sources
- Tarihi geçmiş kanser ilaçlarını piyasaya sürenlere operasyon (BirGün)
- Akın Gürlek duyurdu… Tarihi geçmiş kanser ilaçlarında 650 milyon TL’lik vurgun iddiası: 11 ilde operasyon, 22 gözaltı! (Cumhuriyet)
- Kanser ilacı operasyonunda 11 ilde 22 şüpheli gözaltına alındı (Son Dakika / ANKA)
Photo: Unknown / CC0, via Wikimedia Commons
