A Berkshire couple, Karina Filimonova and Andrejs Stolarovs, has been sentenced to eight months in prison each for their involvement in the illegal possession and intent to supply unlicensed medicines worth £1.6 million. The sentencing took place at Southwark Crown Court following a comprehensive investigation conducted by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).

The MHRA’s involvement in the case began in 2020 when they were alerted to the discovery of parcels containing unlicensed medicines. This discovery was made during an inquiry into suspicious parcel activity conducted by the Royal Mail Group (RMG). Subsequently, the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit initiated a thorough investigation into the matter, with the support of local law enforcement.

The culmination of this investigation led to the arrest of Filimonova and Stolarovs at their residence in Kidwells Close, Maidenhead. During the arrest, authorities discovered an extensive stash of over 1.3 million pills representing 65 different brands of medicines. These medicines encompassed a wide range of treatments, including those for sexual dysfunction, infertility, obesity, alcohol and opioid dependence, narcolepsy/ADHD, breast cancer, and HIV. The street value of these unlicensed medicines was estimated to be a staggering £1.6 million.

Following the MHRA’s inquiry, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) pressed charges against the couple. Filimonova and Stolarovs pleaded guilty to the charges on 13 June 2023, leading to their recent sentencing. Each of them received an eight-month prison sentence, suspended for 18 months, along with 150 hours of unpaid work. These charges were related to the possession and intent to supply medicinal products, contravening the Human Medicines Regulations of 2012.

Andy Morling, MHRA Deputy Director of Criminal Enforcement, expressed his concerns about this illegal operation, stating, “This was a sophisticated operation illegally bringing unlicensed medicines into the UK from Singapore and India, and then distributing them across the country and abroad.” He emphasized the potential risks to public health, as these powerful medicines could lead to severe adverse health consequences if used without appropriate medical supervision.

Morling reassured the public that the MHRA remains committed to safeguarding public health by actively combating illegal activities involving medicines and medical devices.