Huge quantity of fake herbal drugs seized

Revealing this, a senior health official told Khaleej Times, “The seizure shows poor control over the local herbal drug market. A total of 46 fake herbal products adulterated with heavy metals, sex stimulators and cortisone were confiscated from supermarkets across the emirates.”

Comprehensive laboratory tests were conducted on the seized items at the Quality Control and Drugs Laboratory. Results proved they were adulterated with hazardous chemical substances that might be fatal in many cases, said the official.

The counterfeit herbal products were discovered during intensive inspection raids conducted by federal health authorities on supermarkets across the country, said the official.

“Complaints reported by some patients regarding the adverse side-effects of some herbal products alerted health authorities about the ingredients of the vended items. Some patients who had doubts about the origin of the sold items even brought samples of drugs to us to check their components.”