Brothers Fined For Importation And Supply Of Unauthorised Veterinary Medicines

Two brothers from Lurgan, County Armagh, have been convicted at Craigavon Magistrates' Court for conducting an illegal import and export veterinary medicines supply network operating in Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.

Karl Spencer Hewitt, 46, of Demesne Avenue, Lurgan and his brother Ralph King Hewitt, 50, of Birchdale, Lurgan, were each fined £750.00 plus court costs, having pleaded guilty to charges of unlawfully importing, possessing and exporting unauthorised veterinary medicines.

The convictions were the result of a multi-agency investigation in May 2011, involving the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety (DHSSPS) Medicines Regulatory Group, the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), the PSNI and regulatory counterparts from ROI.

A significant quantity of unauthorised veterinary medicines, including antibiotics and steroids primarily intended for the greyhound and equine market, together with a large amount of cash in Sterling and Euros, was recovered following searches of residential properties in the Lurgan area.

During a follow up investigation carried out by the DHSSPS Medicines Regulatory Group, it was established that the brothers had sourced and imported the illegal medicines from Australia and were supplying them throughout the Republic.

Head of the DHSSPS Medicines Regulatory Group, Prof Mike Mawhinney said: "The Department has made it very clear that it will continue to be vigilant and proactive in the regulation of veterinary medicines in Northern Ireland and this operation clearly demonstrates our determination to stop this kind of illegal activity."

DHSSPS Senior Medicines Enforcement Officer, Peter Moore, who led the investigation, said: "These illegal veterinary medicines have now been taken out of general circulation resulting in the closure of an illegal supply network operating outside the regulated regime. The Department will continue to engage with other regulatory and law enforcement agencies on both sides of the border in order to detect those involved in this kind of illegal activity."

(GK)