Pharmaceutical owner nabbed for importing drugs
- Sunday, October 25, 2009, 13:27
- Breaking News
- 7 comments
The Drug Enforcement Commission (DEC) has arrested the proprietor of I.T.R Pharmaceuticals, Ramaschandra Patel for importing 50 kilograms of Ephedrine.
DEC spokesperon John Nyawali comfimed that Patel was arrested together with Duwa Banda, a Pharmacy Technologist working for I.T.R Pharmaceuticals.
Others arrested in connection with the contraband is a Managing Director of a clearing agency, Flobo Tradeconsult Limited, Weihelm Schulzs and Samson Nyirenda, a Lusaka businessman.
The Ephedrine which was imported from Thailand using a fake importation license was intercepted from the Lusaka International Airport in collaboration with Zambia Revenue Authority.
Ephedrine is a highly controlled precursor chemical which in some cases has been used to illegally manufacture stimulant drugs whose abuse has become extensive in the world
Meanwhile the Commission has arrested a housewife of Chaisa compound in Lusaka for trafficking in 106 bundles of mirra.
Fatima Abdi, a Somali national was arrested together with Gray Simuwelu at a check point in Kabangwe area.
All the suspects are detained in Police custody and, according to Nyawali, will appear in court soon.
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Weldone DEC, these are the people who import ‘speed and ice’ ingredients into Zambia…….
cage them..that good news..non baliable offences ..
Well done ba DECEMBER, and ZRA! Drug runnng has been on such an increase recently!
Mr Patel is not involved. This was an inside job by Duwa Banda. Duwa Banda used I.T.R. Pharmaceuticals Company Information without owners (Mr Patel) consent!
this does not seem like fact on ITR Pharmaceutical company and the owner Mr. Patel before accusing. seems the facts will come it might be the others with the propiertors knowledge.
Ephedrine is the medicine use for asthma petients, I see no reason why one can not order the said medicine.
Facts on ephedrine for DEC. In the United States, ephedra and ephedrine are sold in health food stores under a variety of brand names. Ephedrine is widely used for weight loss, as an energy booster, and to enhance athletic performance. These products often contain other stimulants, such as caffeine, which may have synergistic effects and increase the potential for adverse effects. Ephedra is often touted as the “herbal fen-phen.”
This has been removed in weight loss pills taken in US due to serious adverse effects, include hypertension (elevated blood pressure), palpitations (rapid heart rate), neurophathy (nerve damage), myopathy (muscle injury), psychosis, stroke, memory loss, heart rate irregularities, insomnia, nervousness, tremors, seizures, heart attacks, and death. The agency has proposed to prohibit the marketing of dietary supplements containing 8 milligrams or more of ephedrine alkaloids per serving.