Despite Medicare Part D problems, US steps up seizure of Canadian drugs
The U.S. government apparently is stepping up seizures of cheap drugs ordered by Americans — mainly seniors — from abroad, Canadian pharmacies say.
The pharmacies, which sell drugs by mail and over the Internet, say their shipments are being intercepted by U.S. Customs officials around the country where foreign mail is handled.
“It’s huge — we’ve had over 800 seizures in January,” up from 15 in a typical month, said Barney Britton, president of Calgary-based MinitDrugs.
Other pharmacies reported four- to five-fold increases. An informal survey of 30 Canadian pharmacies that cater to American customers, conducted by a senior-citizen advocacy website, showed that the rise began in November, doubled in December and doubled again in January.
Health officials in Minnesota, the first of several states to make cheaper Canadian drugs more readily available to its residents, echoed the reports from north of the border. They said seizures increased in late December from less than 1% to about 4% of shipments, said Brian McClung, a spokesman for Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty.
Ordering drugs from abroad is illegal. But U.S. Customs and Food and Drug Administration officials have generally allowed the practice, apart from occasional seizures designed to publicize potential risks.