This is followed by sleeping pills and tranquilisers, making up 6% of the seizures, the Swiss drugs regulator Swissmedic said on Friday. The number of seizures dropped by 25% compared to 2021, a year in which illegal imports were particularly high, it said.
These illegal products came largely from Asia: 26% from India and 27% from the rest of Asia, including Singapore and Hong Kong. A good third (34%) was sent from Eastern Europe, notably Poland.
In addition to erectile stimulants and sleeping pills, customs officers found hormones, including melatonin, in 5% of the seizures. Nasal sprays and laxatives made up 4% of illegal imports.
Illegal medicines are a health hazard, says Swissmedic, as they often contain no active ingredients or active ingredients that are misrepresented or incorrectly dosed. They may also contain harmful additives. Those who order illegal medicines may face criminal proceedings.
Popular Stories
More
Swiss Abroad
Aussie adoptee gains Swiss citizenship at 54 thanks to old envelope
This content was published on
Switzerland is one of the frontrunners at investing in technology start-ups, according to a study by the European Patent Office.
Geneva university challenges ‘hot Jupiter’ planetary theories
This content was published on
Research led by the University of Geneva challenges current theories about the formation of 'hot Jupiter' planetary systems.
Bankrupt debtors to get second chance in Switzerland
This content was published on
Over-indebted people in Switzerland will be offered a new chance to wipe the slate clean with new procedures to restructure debt.
Swiss drone flights suspended after India incident
This content was published on
Swiss army suspends ADS 15 reconnaissance drone flights following an incident involving a drone of the same type in India.
Zurich traffic signs get gender diversification makeover
This content was published on
The little men depicted on Zurich street signs are to be joined by women, pregnant women, lesbian couples or senior citizens with walking sticks.
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.
Read more
More
Swiss customs crack down on fake medicinal imports
This content was published on
Switzerland’s customs and border security authorities have seized 231 shipments of illegally imported counterfeit medical products.
Swiss seize 40% more illegally imported medicinal products
This content was published on
Last year 9,421 packages containing illegally imported medicinal products were confiscated in Switzerland, up from 6,733 in 2020.
This content was published on
SwissmedicExternal link, the body that authorises medicaments in Switzerland, has issued 51 penalty notices including fines, according to the SonntagsZeitung newspaperExternal link. Farmers under suspicion bought around CHF11,000 ($11,300) worth of drugs every year for up to half the price they pay in Switzerland. The scale of the smuggling operation came to light when the…
You can find an overview of ongoing debates with our journalists here . Please join us!
If you want to start a conversation about a topic raised in this article or want to report factual errors, email us at english@swissinfo.ch.