GOVERNMENT investigators have carried out raids to dismantle a multi-million-pound international black market in fake and stolen versions of the antiviral drug Tamiflu.

The world’s biggest seizure of suspect Tamiflu took place last week in London, where officers from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confiscated 5,000 illegally imported packets of the drug worth an estimated £500,000.

Separately, the MHRA is investigating a company based in Greater Manchester that has been advertising cheap antiviral drugs under the name Tamiflu with a 1,500% mark-up. The agency began its inquiries after being passed information by The Sunday Times.

The raids come amid rising concern over the spread of avian flu. The Department of Health is to commission an advertising agency to spend £350,000 making a television advertisement to be shown if bird flu starts to spread between humans. It will warn people how to avoid infection.

The H5N1 virus has killed 76 people in Asia since it broke out in 2003. So far, all those infected appear to have caught the disease from close contact with poultry but there are fears the virus could mutate so that it can pass between humans.

It is such fears that are fuelling the demand for antiviral drugs — a demand that is being exploited by rogue traders.

The British investigation is part of an international effort. Fake Tamiflu has already been confiscated in America, Austria and the Netherlands.

The drugs seized in London were being sold on the internet without prescription. Investigators are gathering evidence to prosecute the suppliers for importing and holding the drugs without a licence. This could lead to a two-year jail sentence.

The agency is also conducting “sting” operations against 18 websites illegally selling Tamiflu. It has placed orders with several, including one based in Britain, so it can analyse the drugs and begin prosecutions of those involved.

One British firm was last week offering on its website a cheaper, less effective antiviral drug called Amantadine Hydrochloride and calling it Tamiflu.

MSH World Traders, based in Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester, sells what it claims is “Tamiflu 100mg capsules” for £5 each. Genuine Tamiflu is only sold in 75mg capsules.

Amantadine Hydrochloride costs 30p a capsule, meaning MSH’s mark-up is 1,500%.

Martin Hickman, 46, owner of MSH World Traders, declined to comment.

See www.timesonline.co.uk/birdflu for the latest news plus interactive pandemic risk map

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