Casey detectives Paul Stow and Lee Mainnie are tracking thefts of cold and flu tablets from pharmacies. Peter Yab’s Max Hollow Pharmacy in Endeavour Hills was raided last
By Kelly Yates
GANGS are stealing cold and flu tablets from pharmacies to make illegal drugs.
Police say they are concerned about the growing trend and fear it could be part of a larger state-wide drug operation.
Detective Senior Constable Paul Stow from Narre Warren police station said detectives attend at least one pharmacy burglary a month, where medication containing pseudoephedrine has been the target of the attacks.
The most recent incident occurred last Wednesday at the Max Hollow Pharmacy in Endeavour Hills.
Thieves broke into the pharmacy at 11.04pm, smashing the glass front door and forcing the lock on the internal sliding doors in order to steal $100 worth of tablets.
The empty packets were found on the floor in the pharmacy.
Pharmacist and owner of the Max Hollow Pharmacy Peter Yab said last week’s incident was the second in the past five weeks.
“Thieves entered the same way and stole the same cold and flu tablets,” he said.
Drug users are filtering the pseudoephedrine from the cold and flu tablets and mixing it with other chemicals to cook up amphetamines such as speed and ice, according to Mr Yab.
Pseudoephedrine is a decongestant that shrinks blood vessels in the nasal passages and is used to treat nasal and sinus congestion.
Mr Yab, who has been a pharmacist for almost 10 years, said pharmacies had rules and procedures for selling medication containing the drug.
“We only sell one packet at a time and, in cases where we don’t think the patient has a genuine need for the medication, we have the right not to sell it,” he said.
“We can also request identification to keep as a record.”
The cold and flu tablets with pseudoephedrine are kept secured at the Endeavour Hills pharmacy.
Mr Yab said the break-ins were a constant problem for pharmacies in the area, and there was a concern that any resultant drugs could end up on local streets.
The Spring Square Pharmacy in Hallam and the Berwick Springs Pharmacy along Clyde Road have also been raided this year.
Pharmacist Danny Gan from the Spring Square Pharmacy said thieves broke into the pharmacy in October to steal cold and flu tablets.
“The pseudoephedrine, when mixed with other chemicals, is dangerous and harmful to the body,” he said.
“People can suffer from hallucinations and vomiting and cause damage to the heart.”
Mr Gan said the pharmacy also kept a record of who purchased the medication.
Police are urging anyone with information to please call the Narre Warren police station on 9705 3111.
