Man charged for smuggling misbranded drugs into the US

A man based in New Jersey has been charged in connection with a scheme to smuggle misbranded drugs into the US.

Marc Snyder was charged with smuggling misbranded drugs, delivering drugs, and for dispensing prescription drugs without a valid prescription.

Snyder was located in China in early March and deported back to the US to face the charges.

The charges resulted from an investigation carried out by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the Food and Drug Administration's office of criminal investigations, and the US postal inspection service.

Terence Opiola, special agent in charge of HSI’s Newark field office, said: “Snyder’s arrest and deportation from China is yet another reminder of how we will use all available means to capture individuals who disregard the rule of law.”

According to a press release from March 28, between May 2010 and July 2013 Snyder allegedly received parcels from India which were accompanied by incomplete and misleading US customs declarations.

The parcels contained prescription and generic drugs which contained active ingredients present in big brands such as Viagra (sildenafil), Cialis (tadalafil) and Levitra (vardenafil).

Snyder allegedly repackaged the drugs into smaller amounts and sold them to consumers.

The charges could lead to a fine of up to $250,000 and imprisonment.

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