Mosman chemist Katherine Gong charged over supplying cervical cancer vaccine to China
A CHEMIST on Sydney’s lower north shore has been busted allegedly supplying a large amount of a cervical cancer vaccine to China.
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A CHEMIST on Sydney’s lower north shore has been busted allegedly supplying a large amount of a cervical cancer vaccine to China.
Katherine Gong, 34, who operates the Harmony Pharmacy and Wellness Clinic at Mosman, has been charged with three counts of wholesale supply of a prohibited drug.
Police will allege in court that the registered pharmacist supplied more than 2400 vials of Gardasil 9 to a middleman, who then exported the substance under a false declaration to Hong Kong.
The 31-year-old man was charged with nine counts of prohibition on wholesale supply of certain substances.
When approached at the Military Rd 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 $500,000 in Australia and more than $600,000 in Hong Kong.
A multi-agency taskforce, which included members of NSW Police, was conducting a separate investigation when they allegedly uncovered the illegal drug supply by the pharmacist.
Operation Sudwala investigators had been conducting inquiries into the illicit exportation of prescribed restricted substances overseas.
On August 7, they executed search warrants at the Harmony Pharmacy and Wellness Clinic and a home at Sydney Olympic Park, where they seized various items relevant to the probe.
Investigators have also referred the Mosman chemist to Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency.
Gong and her male associate are due to appear at Downing Centre Local Court on November 21.