Fake Viagra ring facing prosecution
By Liu Li (China Daily)
Updated: 2005-12-13 06:13

ZHENGZHOU: Seven people investigated by the local procuratorate after being accused of running a fake Viagra ring are to face prosecution in the near future.

Wang Yinliang, 47, and six other suspects are believed to have produced and sold fake versions of the anti-impotence drug in Zhengzhou in Central China's Henan Province, according to Zhang Shujun, vice-director of the Zhengzhou Municipal Bureau of Public Security.

Wang and the gang are accused of selling 9.7 million fake tablets of Viagra, which is made by Pfizer, towards the end of 2003 and August this year.

"They made profits of 730,000 yuan (US$90,000) from the illegal production and sales," Zhang said.

Zhang and his colleagues raided the hideout for its production in Zhengzhou in September. "More than 90 policemen participated in the campaign," he said.

All of the suspects were caught at site. Quantities of semi-completed versions of the drug were discovered.

About 580,000 pieces of fake trademarks and packing, 10 production machines, a computer, a car, eight banking cards and cash of more than 10,000 yuan (US$1,200) were seized.

Public Security Minister Zhou Yongkang issued a citation in October, to say the operation played a big role in fulfilling China's pledge over the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR).

Since November last year, when public security authorities started a nationwide campaign to fight against trademark infringements, 17 such cases involving 126 million yuan (US$15.5 million) were cracked in Zhengzhou, according to Zhang.

Medicine, food and cigarette industries were given priority in the crackdown, sources said.

Meanwhile, a supervision team sent by the State Council on IPR protection completed a five-day inspection in Henan at the weekend.

The 15-strong team, headed by Zheng Shaodong, assistant minister of the Ministry of Public Security, also looked at IPR protection work in East China's Jiangsu Province ahead of the visit.

In total, the State Council sent out seven teams from late last month to mid-December to supervise and examine IPR protection in 15 provinces, municipalities and autonomous regions including Beijing, Zhejiang and Guangdong.

A report will now be made by the National Office of Rectification and Standardization of Market Economic Order, under the supervision of the Ministry of Commerce, to the State Council.