News Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 22, 2003

DEA Miami Makes Progress Against Illegal On-Line Pharmacies

RX NETWORK Suspended

A DEA Diversion investigator seizing items from C&H Wholesale

OCT 22--On October 22, 2003, Miami Field Division Diversion investigators served an Immediate Suspension Order for a DEA registration assigned to RX NETWORK of South Florida. In March 2002, Diversion and U.S. Food and Drug Administration investigators initiated this investigation. RX NETWORK is an Internet pharmacy whose sole purpose is to fill Internet prescriptions. The Internet prescriptions consisted of Schedule III and IV weight loss drugs and Schedule IV sleep-aid drugs. Between September 2002 and October 2003, investigators made nine undercover buys from RX NETWORK. The buys were obtained without having contact with the pharmacy or prescribing physicians. Investigators seized approximately 158,000 dosage units of controlled substances belonging to RX NETWORK.

C & H WHOLESALE and LIFELINE PHARMACY Suspended

SA Joe Kilmer seizing drugs from RX NETWORK

OCT 10--On October 10, 2003, Miami Field Division Diversion investigators served Immediate Suspension Orders for DEA registrations assigned to C & H WHOLESALE and LIFELINE PHARMACY of Davie, Florida. C & H is a registered controlled substance wholesaler that mainly distributes large quantities of Schedule III and IV weight loss drugs to Internet pharmacies throughout South Florida. This investigation was initiated in May 2003. In July 2003, investigators conducted three undercover buys of drugs through Internet web sites. All three buys were accomplished by filling out a medical questionnaire with no contact with a pharmacy or prescribing physician. Investigators seized approximately 17,500 dosage units of controlled substances from C& H WHOLESALE and approximately 125,000 dosage units from LIFELINE PHARMACY.

Photos courtesy of The Miami Herald