[Trev]

Originally posted by Technick@Apr 22 2005, 11:07 PM
As I understand it the DEA's complaint is this:

Operation “Cyber Chase” targeted major pharmaceutical drug traffickers who allegedly shipped Schedule II-V pharmaceutical controlled substances including narcotics, amphetamines, and anabolic steroids directly to buyers of all ages without the medical examination by a physician required by U.S. law.

(Taken from: http://www.usdoj.gov/dea/pubs/pressrel/pr042005.html)

These guys were committing a number of very serious crimes:

1) Importing of class II drugs into the US. Heroin is a class II drug so it is no different in the eyes of the law than someone mailing you a bag of heroin.

2) Repackaging drugs within the US. They were basically splitting up bags of pills sent to them and resending them without any pharmacist's license. Again consider the heroin analogy and you'll see its no different to dealing.

3) Using non FDA approved drugs. This is illegal if you are a doctor or pharmacist or not. Customs will occasionally allow special dispensation for certain drugs if, for example, a life saving or prolonging drug is unavailable in the US. But this dispensation must be sought on a personal level.

4) Failure to provide a doctor's medical examination. These can be only provided through a US licensed doctor and in the case of vicodin, oxycodone, phentermine etc. one with a DEA license. As I understand it however an online questionnaire, if reviewed by a doctor, does constitute a medical examination. But these guys weren't even doing that.

The operation appears to have been sparked by the overdose death of a minor who had ordered vicodin from one of these operators. The operator I believe received a 20 year sentence.

I should add most of this information was gleaned from a lawyer we contacted regarding the legality of setting up an internet pharmacy. He confirmed our common sense thoughts on this practice and as a result we didn't touch it with a bargepole.

Wow! Excellent information Technick