Two people arrested for distributing counterfeit children’s medicine to pharmacies in Qamishli

QAMISHLI, Syria – Many citizens of Qamishli city in northeastern Syria reported the deterioration of their children’s health after taking a medicinal drug named “Tempra”. The Organized Crime Office of the Internal Security Forces of North and East Syria (ISF) were able to arrest two people trading and distributing counterfeit medicine to several pharmacies in Qamishli, yesterday.

An official of the Organized Crime Office indicated that the distributed medicine composition differs from the original since it is free of the active substance. The official added that the distributed medicines were packed with only alcohol and dyes in order to change their color.

Tempra is a syrup medicine prescribed for children with high temperature or fever. The counterfeit Tempra that has been circulating in Qamishli has caused side effects for children such as vomiting and severe infections.

The ISF immediately investigated the situation and found two people distributing the counterfeit medicine to many pharmacies throughout the city. Two warehouses of the same counterfeit medicine ready to be distributed were also discovered.

The ISF issued a warning to all citizens to take care and caution before giving any medicine to their children. Meanwhile, the concerned authorities continue their search and investigation operations to arrest the rest of the network’s members in order to destroy any remaining counterfeit medicine.