Tech
How Criminals Are Making Millions Counterfeiting Prescription Drugs
CNBC investigates a shadowy network of criminals targeting life-saving prescription medications for HIV from companies like Gilead Sciences and Johnson & Johnson who buy the medications from patients desperate for cash. They then go to gray market distributors who sell the medications to pharmacies at a huge discount. A major case highlighted in the story in which some $230 million in counterfeit pills were distributed throughout the U.S., was run like an organized crime group, according to authorities. The kingpin, who was sentenced to a 15-year prison term, used the proceeds from the counterfeiting ring to fly to Las Vegas on private jets and gamble in high-stakes poker tournaments. In surveillance video, he’s seen with wads of cash at a casino. In an exclusive interview at Gilead headquarters, the company’s head of anti-counterfeiting and global product security details how drugs are diverted with fake labels and bottle caps and sold for less than $200 on the street, taking us inside the company’s “war room” where confiscated counterfeit pills and paperwork are stored. A convicted felon who got rich in from the counterfeit pill business explains how it all works and CNBC obtains a never before seen hidden camera video in which trio of counterfeiters is shown altering pill bottles in an apartment.
Correspondent: Contessa Brewer
Senior Investigative Producer: Scott Zamost
Editor: Allison Stedman
Animation: Michael Schwartz
Photojournalists: Duane Poquis, Jacob Jimenez, Oscar Molina, Marco Mastrorilli, Roger Prehoda, Steve Weiss
Audio: Steve Theroux, Lori Smith, Juan Merlo
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How Big Pharma Is Fighting Counterfeit Drugs
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@droomagon
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
pretty pathetic an old man trying to act cool
@cusz87
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
They sure care when it affects their bottom line. Some people can't afford regular medicine.
@Collinmckennatheshark1
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
So they get less money waaaaaas
@d.c.1059
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
0:26 Definitely sampling the stash…
@russellmanweller6694
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
You wouldn't pay $1000 for a bottle of aspirin, but you would if you needed it to save your life.
So the government pays the $1000 out of our taxes, and the drug company decides that they can afford to lose customers who don't have government help, and can't afford the drugs.
Basically you are paying $1000 dollars for something that should cost the same as aspirin because the government causes the company to expect $1000, even though most people wouldn't be able to pay that without relying on the government.
So government gets to have control over the people who rely on them, and the doctors and drug companies that the government decides will get the people they send, end up becoming the top business.
Meanwhile, competition is crushed, and regular people get poor or die.
@russellmanweller6694
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
You wouldn't pay $1000 for a bottle of aspirin, but you would if you needed it to save your life.
So the government pays the $1000 out of our taxes, and the drug company decides that they can afford to lose customers who don't have government help, and can't afford the drugs.
Basically you are paying $1000 dollars for something that should cost the same as aspirin because the government causes the company to expect $1000, even though most people wouldn't be able to pay that without relying on the government.
So government gets to have control over the people who rely on them, and the doctors and drug companies that the government decides will get the people they send, end up becoming the top business.
Meanwhile, competition is crushed, and regular people get poor or die.
@russellmanweller6694
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
You wouldn't pay $1000 for a bottle of aspirin, but you would if you needed it to save your life.
So the government pays the $1000 out of our taxes, and the drug company decides that they can afford to lose customers who don't have government help, and can't afford the drugs.
Basically you are paying $1000 dollars for something that should cost the same as aspirin because the government causes the company to expect $1000, even though most people wouldn't be able to pay that without relying on the government.
So government gets to have control over the people who rely on them, and the doctors and drug companies that the government decides will get the people they send, end up becoming the top business.
Meanwhile, competition is crushed, and regular people get poor or die.
@russellmanweller6694
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
You wouldn't pay $1000 for a bottle of aspirin, but you would if you needed it to save your life.
So the government pays the $1000 out of our taxes, and the drug company decides that they can afford to lose customers who don't have government help, and can't afford the drugs.
Basically you are paying $1000 dollars for something that should cost the same as aspirin because the government causes the company to expect $1000, even though most people wouldn't be able to pay that without relying on the government.
So government gets to have control over the people who rely on them, and the doctors and drug companies that the government decides will get the people they send, end up becoming the top business.
Meanwhile, competition is crushed, and regular people get poor or die.
@russellmanweller6694
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
You wouldn't pay $1000 for a bottle of aspirin, but you would if you needed it to save your life.
So the government pays the $1000 out of our taxes, and the drug company decides that they can afford to lose customers who don't have government help, and can't afford the drugs.
Basically you are paying $1000 dollars for something that should cost the same as aspirin because the government causes the company to expect $1000, even though most people wouldn't be able to pay that without relying on the government.
So government gets to have control over the people who rely on them, and the doctors and drug companies that the government decides will get the people they send, end up becoming the top business.
Meanwhile, competition is crushed, and regular people get poor or die.
@russellmanweller6694
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
You wouldn't pay $1000 for a bottle of aspirin, but you would if you needed it to save your life.
So the government pays the $1000 out of our taxes, and the drug company decides that they can afford to lose customers who don't have government help, and can't afford the drugs.
Basically you are paying $1000 dollars for something that should cost the same as aspirin because the government causes the company to expect $1000, even though most people wouldn't be able to pay that without relying on the government.
So government gets to have control over the people who rely on them, and the doctors and drug companies that the government decides will get the people they send, end up becoming the top business.
Meanwhile, competition is crushed, and regular people get poor or die.
@russellmanweller6694
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
You wouldn't pay $1000 for a bottle of aspirin, but you would if you needed it to save your life.
So the government pays the $1000 out of our taxes, and the drug company decides that they can afford to lose customers who don't have government help, and can't afford the drugs.
Basically you are paying $1000 dollars for something that should cost the same as aspirin because the government causes the company to expect $1000, even though most people wouldn't be able to pay that without relying on the government.
So government gets to have control over the people who rely on them, and the doctors and drug companies that the government decides will get the people they send, end up becoming the top business.
Meanwhile, competition is crushed, and regular people get poor or die.
@quantumHumans
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
and there is never ending changes like people loove oxycodone even after all the fus and deaths there is delusion that we can't control ourselves with meds and that restriction btw first is givaways like candies special drugs like amphetamines and opioids that works on our reward system (dopamine, serotonin , endorphins). so when person can't get his med that gives him ability to think and provide for his family must turn to street or web pharmacies where fentanyl is danger
@quantumHumans
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
at exactly 0,54 sec in the video pause it may last only half a second but: left journalist looks like it's graphic made or rendered but poorly
@chillfluencer
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Coubterfeit drugs are neglugible compared to the criminal big pharma…which fuXks our lives up with its drugs that it sells to us as the solution…but in fact they only help short term…while on the long run they destroy our health completely. I rather die younger than suffering through life just to get old…for what?
@d.diggler9936
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Fuct up part is that we HAVE to pay for this system. One of my two prescriptions totals 487$ per month for a POS Indian knock off that the fda says is legitimate.
@rosemarietolentino3218
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
If crime doesn’t pay why do so many people do it?
@jbandzbandzupordiegang9386
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
I think they should sell medication at factory price some people depend on it,dose meds are not like gold where you can sale at your price,
This pills are made cheap sale them cheap,it can save peoples life or extend life for others
@jonathanwatkins6951
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Imagine how easy it would be to monitor all the different manufacturing issues if the manufacturing was done stateside.
Also having lasting painful punishments as well as holding individuals accountable.
@Killdroid96
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
We need the pharma companies to stop overcharging people for their life sustaining medication. WHY IS THIS STUFF $3000 a bottle! Why does insulin cost $1500 per vial. These companies do not care about the customer. They care about their profits. Most of the medications they make are subsidized by the government so they (pharma company) do not foot the bill but they sure as hell have the ability to profit BILLIONS off of people who are in need.
@TurdFergusen
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Wait who is the criminal again? The lines are a bit blurry… if they have a working product with good safety protocols I dont have much of a problem here. Maybe they need to research unprofitable but effective treatments too.
@gelatinskeleton8745
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
It’s not the pharmaceutical companies gambling with folks lives….
That a convenient deflection
@thehimself4056
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Anything deemed illegal. Is inherently more profitable. Big pharmaceutical companies don’t care about you or your life either. So legally or illegally. Money matters most.
@JoeRogansForehead
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Why is a pharmacy buying drugs from randoms ?
@adventurously_random
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
I love how they like to remind Americans it comes at your tax payers expense… that's a perfect tactic for the rich to blame the criminals for the reason the rich is getting rich off the citizens. They're already the criminals
@hatednyc
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
None of this would happen if medication wasn’t so insanely expensive in America.
@Phoenix-J81
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
This wouldn't even be a problem if drugs weren't so overpriced.
@mikenice4876
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
America is the biggest pill 💊 to swallow!!! 🤦🏽
@darnellhall8173
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
These criminals will stop at nothing America is going straight down in to toilet
@lynsylva-bb6ss
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Ok so it's the ppl that are selling their own meds.
Seroquel is very expensive so that's weird they would put it in the bottles instead of the other.
@RonnieMyers777
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
How dare they rip off the Pharma Cartels
@frogvision9534
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
this is proof the war on drugs was unnecessary look at this scheme and how it work but the feds are focused on the dealers instead of the pharmaceutical companies that recycle the bottles
@denverscott37
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
A single bottle of medication is sold for several thousand dollars?
This dude isn't the only crook in this story..
@metatrongroove2824
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Who is the real criminal here? Could it be the pharma companies charging way too much for life-saving medications?
@CoochieGrabberTrump
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Insanely scary. This is happening with many different drugs including pain killers where they are putting fentanyl in the pills and ppl die. They think they are taking perscibed meds cuz they were perscribed and end up dying
@becka55978
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
And I thought I was going crazy when I noticed my Vyvanse suddenly stopped working
@briand5379
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
No doubt, counterfeiting is bad for patients when they receive a completely different medication than the one they asked for. It's not counterfeiting if a patient sells their medication to people who remove the patient name off the bottle and then sell the medication for more money back to the supply chain, that's called capitalism. The fact that the patient needed to even sell their prescription to make ends meet should be the bigger focus than the fact it's occurring.
@digdug23
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
good thing there are systems in place to make sure that doesn't happen🤣
@brey1720
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Well thats just friggin BS 🤦♀️ unnecessary BS 😮💨
@somebodywhocares9293
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
A counterfeit?
But their product is a synthetic product.
A counterfeit from nature
@squirrelgray945
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Expensive and life saving… says all you need to know about big pharma right there.
@jaker3151
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
The American healthcare system is messed up on so many levels.
@hunter5369
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Let's call him hulio 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
@danksinatra5977
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Awww poor big pharma…Go cry about😂 Drugs to help the sick should be affordable if not, completely free!
@Rashiedamichelle
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
This only happens because insurance and drug companies work together to charge the U.S. about 3x more for the exact same drugs the rest of the world is paying a fraction of the price for. It’s been going on for years and now that it’s digging into their own pockets it’s a problem. At one point the DEA was literally scared to prosecute some opioid manufacturers because they were too wealthy and feared they would lose the case. 🥱
@piffman90
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Fraud in a bottle whether it's from big pharma or the street pharmacis, let's not forget the same prescriptions bought in Mexico are suddenly counterfeit when brought here
@kwhp1507
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Anyone wanna buy a bottle of lortabs? Lol
@jchastain789
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
What i don't understand for a decade now. Why don't the pharm companies just make new imprints
@kwhp1507
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
You can thank our healthcare system for this problem. In a modern society there’s no reason we don’t have free healthcare.
@andrewpage4932
December 21, 2023 at 10:33 am
Another Fat Slob Off To Jail!