More than a ton of fake medicines and other products used for the growth of muscle mass and the loss of body fat were seized

10 people who would be part of the organization responsible for counterfeiting these products and their subsequent sale via internet and social networks were arrested.

The illicit trade made its way and put athletes’ lives or people seeking physical strength at risk. Fake medicines, supplements, and anabolic, artisanal mixtures and adulterated products were sold via internet and through social networks on the assumption that they allegedly help to increase muscle mass or to lose body fat.

Thanks to a joint work of the Office of the Attorney General and the Dijin- National Police, it was possible to identify a criminal organization allegedly involved in the production, transportation, and commercialization of these fake medicines to different parts of the country.

As a result of proceedings carried out in Bogotá and ​​Bucaramanga (Santander), 10 alleged members of this network were arrested including the alleged commanders and financiers. During the proceedings, more than a ton of medicines (more than one million units), and another ton of machinery and supplies used to counterfeit and adulterate them were seized.

Among the items that were found, there are supplements, anabolic steroids, hormones used for children´s growth; treatments for breast cancer and anemia; medicines for sexual performance, fertility or reproduction; and veterinary products.

Prosecutors assigned to the Special Directorate against Human Rights Violations charged the defendants with food, medical products, or prophylactic material corruption; usurpation of industrial property rights; and conspiracy to commit a crime. Seven of the defendants pleaded guilty to the charges.

Dangerous mixture

The evidence obtained by the Office of the Attorney General and Dijin, with the support of specialized experts of the Institute for Food and Drug surveillance (Instituto Nacional de Vigilancia de Medicamentos y Alimentos (Invima)) and pharmaceutical laboratories, show that this structure apparently used different illegal maneuvers to obtain, modify or counterfeit medicines.

Sometimes, they mixed different hormonal treatments with veterinary products which are used to accelerate livestock growth. The result of this mixture (powder, pills, liquid solutions, and others) was allegedly packaged and labeled as food supplements, vitamins, or anabolic steroids, most of these with foreign brands.

There is also evidence that they allegedly used flour, olive oil, and other substances to improve the appearance of the products. Likewise, they allegedly smuggled expired medicines through the cross border in Venezuela. They modified lots, dates, and other registries and used them for their sale.

The investigations revealed that all products to increase muscle mass, burn fat and improve sexual performance, among others, were sold on two web pages created by the alleged leaders of the organization. Moreover, they created profiles in which they promoted the criminal business in social networks.

The deliveries of these products were made to any city in the country through courier companies and parcels. This type of dangerous mixtures and their consumption could cause serious and irreversible damages to the renal, hormonal, and hepatic systems.

It is important to clarify that medicines for postoperative breast cancer were allegedly sold to male customers on the assumption that these could help them to avoid adverse effects on the body or the excessive growth of pectorals.

The defendants

Among the defendants, there are three alleged leaders: Alison Danilo Angarita Rincón, Édgar Motta Villamizar, and Oscar Yordine Albarracín Blanco. Other defendants were allegedly in charge of the manufacture, sale, and transport process. There were also people who designed boxes, packaging, and other accessories to give the appearance of authenticity.

This result is part of the prioritization strategy defined by the Attorney General against the crimes that affect citizens’ health and lives.

The Office of the Attorney General Creates results.

The information contained in this press release corresponds to the narration of the objective news provided by the officials in charge of carrying out the criminal investigations within the Office of the Attorney General. By the time this communication is disclosed, the legal status of the people mentioned is still pending to be resolved by the competent judicial authority, always under the presumption of innocence contemplated by Article 29 of the Political Constitution and Article 7 of Law 906 of 2004.