Honeydew police take down illegal medication manufacturers

One man has been arrested in connection with manufacturing fake cough mixture.

Members of the Honeydew Police’s Infrastructure Task Team swooped in on an illegal medication manufacturing plant on October 18. Operating in an upmarket business park in Northriding, the plant had been illegally manufacturing bottles of counterfeit cough mixture on an industrial scale. One man was arrested for contravening the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965 and manufacturing, labelling equipment and stock valued at R1.5 million was confiscated.

The confiscated bottles of cough mixture appeared to be professionally made and convincing of their authenticity. Honeydew police spokesperson, Warrant Officer Dave Stanton said, “ensure that medications you purchase are either prescribed or suggested to you by a medical practitioner at an accredited fully licensed pharmacy.

“Unfortunately lower income communities are more susceptible to a prevalence of informal health and medication stores where counterfeit medications are more likely to be sold. Purchasers of such counterfeit medications seldom know the real ingredients and the usage thereof could easily cause more harm than good.”

Captain Pogoli Mphahlele, Constable Nyiko Chauke and Constable Maphaphu with the bottles of counterfeit cough mixture. Photo: Supplied.