Antidepressants allegedly packed in boxes with the code ARV
AUSTIN VIEW – A week ago, Rabie Ridge police recovered abandoned boxes on Dale Road full of what was thought to be antiretroviral (ARVs) drugs, as the boxes that the drugs were being carried in were allegedly labelled with codes used for the drugs.
Police spokesperson Constable Jacob Nhlongo said, “A company from Woodmead came forward to claim the boxes full of medication as their property. However inside the boxes was an antidepressant drug, not ARVs, as previously reported.”
Read Police find boxes of ARVs in the veld
Nhlongo added that clinics and hospitals in Midrand had been contacted to find out if they were missing stock. Due to a barcode on the boxes with the letters ARV, it was believed that ARVs were inside – an allegation the company, whose name Midrand Reporter has withheld, has strongly denied.
But in a statement, the company admitted, “… The boxes had a product that contains escitalopram, an antidepressant prescribed for the treatment of depression. It was being transported for destruction in a specialised manner by a third party as the market which it was destined for was not currently able to import it.”
The statement continued, “The product was manufactured by our company for an off shore affiliate, not manufactured for sale in the South African market as it is not registered for use in South Africa.”
The company claims it is investigating why the product was not disposed of in the correct manner by its contracted third party.
Midrand Reporter will continue to investigate the story.
Do you know anything about drugs that a company in Woodmead allegedly neglegently disposed of? If you do email us on midrandreporter@caxton.co.zaJoin the Joburg North Local News WhatsApp group and get live news updates sent straight to your phone. Just send a WhatsApp message with your name and surname to 079 439 5345.
