3.5 tonnes of expired drugs destroyed

About 3.5 tonnes of expired drugs, including Viagra pills and steroids, have been destroyed by Dubai Ports and Customs Authority in collaboration with the Health Ministry.

The drugs were confiscated last year from various entry points to the emirate and included medicines, which are brought into Dubai illegally. Some of the medicines were on the prohibited list.

"Most of these medicines are confiscated from passengers who do not get permission from the Health Ministry," said Butti Al Dhafri, Director of Administration at Dubai Customs.

He noted that the medicines are destroyed once a year when they exceed a certain amount. It is done in collaboration with the Ministry of Health, which examines them and makes sure the process is carried out safely and without harming the environment, he said.

The owners of the medicines are given three months to get approval from the Ministry of Health, said Al Dhafri.