Black market meds: how nuclear analysis can fight trafficking of counterfeit medicines
THE trafficking of counterfeit and illegal medicines is a growing global challenge, with many criminal organisations involved and huge amounts of cash changing hands. In our recent research, we propose a new method for testing and tracing illegal counterfeit medicines. The solution is nuclear. FRANCESCO SAVERIO ROMOLO, Expert for Forensic Sciences at InternAational Atomic Energy Agency, Università degli Studi di Bergamo MATTEO GALLIDABINO, Senior Lecturer in Forensic Science, Northumbria University, Newcastle Counterfeit medicines are attractive for criminals. They have high profit margins, with relatively low risks in terms of legal consequences. It is also quite easy to deceive consumers into…