Source: Folha Online, 23/05/2008

A report prepared by FGV (Fundação Getúlio Vargas) prepared at the request of the Max Planck Institute, an organ of the German government that studies the topic in several countries, points out that the theft of medicine cargo overcomes counterfeiting and consolidates itself as the main actor of the illegal drug market in the country, according to a Folha report (full text exclusively for subscribers to the newspaper and UOL) this Friday.

The report, signed by journalist Claudia Colucci, brings data about the theft of cargoes of medicines in the State of São Paulo throughout 2007 and the first quarter of this year. The figures point to a 20% evolution in this type of crime in 2007 compared to the same period in 2006.

From interviews with delegates and prosecutors, FGV came to the conclusion that there are at least 50 groups specialized in cargo theft of drugs operating in the country. In general, the text says, they have information coming from inside the pharmaceutical companies themselves about the date of departure, the content and the destination of the drug loads.

Anvisa (National Health Surveillance Agency) is studying a mechanism to track all types of drugs from their manufacture to their sale at pharmacies.

The report also includes information from a study coordinated by Etco (Brazilian Institute of Ethics in Competition) regarding informality in the pharmaceutical sector in Brazil. It ranges from 20% to 40% and generates an annual loss between R $ 2 to R $ 3 billion in tax collection and collection of state and federal fees.