GEORGE TOWN: Unregistered sexual stimulants and cosmetics worth about RM3.9mil have been seized by the state Health Department in a coordinated operation named Ops Legacy 2.0.
State health director Datuk Dr Fazilah Shaikh Allaudin said the raids were conducted on July 30 on seventeen premises in Penang.
"The operation targeted the sale of unregistered sexual stimulant drugs containing scheduled poisons, as well as non-notified cosmetics sold online.
"Seventeen premises around Penang were inspected, resulting in the seizure of four hundred sixty-three types of products and seven digital devices, with an estimated total value of RM3.9mil," she said during a press conference at Berjaya Georgetown Hotel.
Dr Fazilah said the operation demonstrates the Health Ministry's serious stance on combating the sale of unregistered products and non-notified cosmetics, especially online sales which have become a trend.
She said the public was advised to be cautious and not easily influenced by advertisements or testimonials on websites, social media platforms, and ecommerce applications with unreasonable medical claims.
Dr Fazilah said sexual stimulant drugs were used to treat patients with sexual problems such as impotence, also known as erectile dysfunction (ED).
She said in Malaysia, several types of sexual stimulant drugs, have been registered with the Drug Control Authority (DCA) under the category of controlled drugs with the letter "A" at the end of its registration number.
"This drug for the treatment of conditions related to sexual function cannot be advertised in any broadcast media as it is strictly prohibited under Section 3 of the Medicines (Advertisement & Sale) Act 1956 and can only be supplied by a registered medical practitioner or by a licensed pharmacist with a valid prescription.
She said the public can check the registration status of medicines or cosmetic notifications by visiting the website https://www.npra.gov.my under the "Product Status" section, by contacting the National Pharmaceutical Regulatory Agency (NPRA) at 03-7883 5400 or downloading the NPRA Product Status app.
She said the public was encouraged to submit complaints and provide information about any suspicious medicines or cosmetics to the Health Ministry Pharmacy Services Programme, through the website.
Meanwhile, the Penang pharmacy enforcement division that led Ops Legacy 2.0, also collaborated with its counterparts in other states to raid seven locations in Kedah and Johor.
The raids saw a total of 64 unregistered sex stimulants and unnotified cosmetics products worth about RM500,000, said pharmacy enforcement director Mohd Zawawi Abdullah.
He said the raids including in Penang were conducted after two months of intelligence work by the state health authorities.
"Among the premises we raided were warehouse, offices premises and residential premises," he said.
He added among those who were detained and interrogated were the owners and staff of the premises.
He said the authorities believed the product was made in the country and meant for local distribution.
