5 attempts to illegally import 23,000 ivermectin tablets into S’pore foiled by ICA

Singapore ― In less than a month, officers from the Immigration & Checkpoints Authority (ICA) foiled five attempts of illegal importing of Ivermectin into Singapore through postal parcels.

The illegal sale and supply of Ivermectin are being investigated by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) following the case of a 65-year-old woman who was hospitalised earlier this month after taking the drug.

Ivermectin is not an over-the-counter drug and is often prescribed by a doctor to treat head lice, scabies, and other infestations. It is also used in larger quantities to treat dogs, horses, and other animals for parasites and heartworm.

HSA noted it was aware of public members importing and taking the drug as a treatment for Covid-19.

The agency reiterated that self-medicating with Ivermectin was dangerous and an unauthorised method of treating Covid-19.

Under the Health Products Act, those found guilty of the illegal sale of medicines can be imprisoned for up to two years, fined up to S$50,000, or both.

On Tuesday (Oct 19), ICA took to Facebook to announce that its officers at Changi Airfreight Centre and Airmail Transit Centre (Air Cargo Command) thwarted five attempts of illegally importing the drug into Singapore from Sept 10 to Oct 6, 2021.

“The buyers had either failed to declare the items or had declared them as ‘Healthcare Products,’” said ICA.

In total, 23,100 Ivermectin tablets were confiscated.

The importations were not authorised by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) and were detected when our officers noticed anomalies in the scanned images of the parcels, said ICA, noting the cases has been forwarded to HSA for further investigation.

“HSA takes a serious view against those engaged in the illegal import, sale and supply of medicines, including ivermectin, and will take strong enforcement action against such persons,” said ICA. /TISG

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