April 22nd 2014
Two men have been sentenced after importing counterfeit condoms, some of which would presumably have been sold online via disreputable websites.
Following an investigation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), two directors of Trade Express UK Ltd were sentenced at Isleworth Crown Court to an eight month prison sentence suspended for two year and 200 hours of unpaid work. A confiscation order was made against each defendant for £14,809.40 – and both have to pay costs of £10,596.51. They have also been banned from serving as a director of any company for seven years.
Kanisham Kapour aged 46, of Harrow and Ahmeed Singh Manocha aged 49 of Shepherds Bush Green, pleaded guilty in January to conspiring to possess counterfeit Durex condoms. The UK Border Agency seized over 25,000 packs of counterfeit Durex condoms in May 2012. They then referred their findings to the MHRA, who launched Operation Albatross to investigate the company. The fake condoms were being imported from China where the defendants arranged for them to be shipped to Felixstowe and then delivered to their business express in West London.
MHRA Director of Medical Devices John Wilkinson, said: “It’s vital that people buy condoms from well-known reputable retailers and pharmacies. People should also be aware that if they buy condoms from illicit websites there is no guarantee that the product that arrives will be safe to use or of good quality. Counterfeit condoms look real but they are badly made and anyone using one has a higher risk of catching a sexually transmitted disease or having an unwanted pregnancy." Mr Wilkinson continued: “These two men did not care about people’s health and this case highlights that we will not hesitate to take action against people involved in criminal activity such as this.”
<a href="https://plus.google.com/111686736307855785273?rel=author">By Get Safe Online</a>
