Kargo palsu, ‘doktor AI’ punca lambakan ubat tak berdaftar

On Tuesday, the Kelantan Health Department seized 5,584 products, worth around RM60,000, including unregistered laxatives, from seven premises in Kota Bharu. The primary reasons behind the large-scale distribution of illegally registered pharmaceuticals and cosmetics, according to the Malaysian Pharmacy Association (MPS), are false cargo declarations at entry gate checkpoints and weak online marketplace controls.

The president of MPS, Amrahi Buang, explained that smugglers use land routes and illegal warehouses, concealing potentially harmful items within standard commercial cargo containers under a general product label to avoid inspections. "Smuggling syndicates also leverage e-commerce platforms and remote storage facilities in industrial areas or residential buildings as distribution hubs before shipping to the domestic market," he told FMT.

Furthermore, unregistered sellers exploit artificial intelligence (AI) technology by creating fake doctor images or voices to persuade consumers, and by frequently closing and reopening accounts after authorities' detection. Concerns were also raised during Kelantan Health Department's action on August 19, which seized 5,584 products, worth approximately RM60,000, from seven premises in Kota Bharu, including unregistered laxatives.

These products contained various toxins, highlighting the risks associated with unregistered products reaching consumers and the need for stronger enforcement under the Opium Act 1952 and the Toxins Act 1952. Amrahi suggested that the maximum fine of RM25,000 for individuals and RM50,000 for companies under the Opium Act 1952 is insufficient to combat the challenges of the digital market and advanced tactics used today.

He emphasized the need for stricter regulations, including imposing penalties on online platform managers who fail to monitor and prevent illicit activities. Buang also proposed increasing penalties for pharmaceutical companies that mix toxins, based on the percentage of sales value or quantity seized, rather than a fixed fine amount.

Meanwhile, public health expert Dr. Sharifa Ezat Wan Puteh from Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) warned that unregistered laxatives mixed with prohibited ingredients can cause severe health issues, including damage to the reproductive system, heart, liver, and failure of organ functions, as well as potential carcinogenic effects.

She advised citizens to always check the registration status of products and consult qualified doctors before taking any supplements.