Mosman chemist accused of illegally supplying STI vaccine to China
A CHEMIST has been charged with illegally supplying a sexually transmitted diseases vaccine to China after police raided her Mosman pharmacy.
NSW
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A north shore pharmacist has been charged with illegally supplying a sexually transmitted diseases vaccine to China.
Katherine Gong, 34, who is the sole proprietor of the Harmony Pharmacy and Wellness Clinic at Mosman was charged with three counts of wholesale supply of a prohibited drug.
The vaccine is used to vaccinate young women from a range of potentially deadly sexually transmitted diseases.
Gong is accused of supplying more than 2000 vials of the Gardasil 9 vaccine.
NSW Organised Crime squad detectives, working with Australian Federal Police and the Australian Border Force, allegedly uncovered the illegal activity during an international investigation into money laundering.
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They arrested a 31-year-old male associate of Gong who they claim exported the Gardasil to Hong Kong.
Police will allege in court the woman supplied 2400 Gardasil 9 ‘injections’ vials to the man, who then exported the substance under a false declaration to Hong Kong.
When approached by The Daily Telegraph at the Mosman business today Gong said “obviously I cannot comment” about the charges.
“I’m going to speak to my lawyer and I’ll give you a call I guess,” she said.
The estimated retail value of the drugs is around $500,000 in Australia and a lot more on the black market in Hong Kong.
Gardasil 9 injections are given to young women to prevent them contracting deadly cancers spread through sexual contact.
Police raided the chemist in Military Road, Mosman and a home in Sydney Olympic Park in August.
After further investigation police charged the two and issued them with court attendance notices to appear in Central Court on November 21.
The arrest followed the setting up of Operation Sudwala last year comprising of AFP, NSW Organised Crime Squad, NSW Crime Commission, Australian Border Force Department of Home Affairs and Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to investigate the importation and supply of prohibited drugs.
As part of the operation investigators began to get information concerning the illegal exportation of prescribed restricted substances overseas.
The woman, who is a registered pharmacist, was charged with three counts of prohibition on wholesale supply of certain substances.
The man was charged with nine counts of prohibition on wholesale supply of certain substances.
Investigators have referred the pharmacist to Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration confirmed there was “constrained supply” of Gardasil in Australia in June and July but claimed there was “no shortage”.
The Administration has requested and urgent update on stockpiles with supplier Merck Sharp and Dohme.