Pubdate: Sat, 16 Jul 2005
Source: Star-Banner, The (FL)
Copyright: 2005 The Star-Banner
Contact:  http://www.starbanner.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/1533
Author: Denis Kalette, Associated Press
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/oxycontin.htm (Oxycontin/Oxycodone)

AGENTS ARREST 10 IN WEB DRUG BUST

MIAMI - Law enforcement agents arrested 10 people Friday for illegally
selling prescription painkillers and other controlled drugs worth more
than $10 million on the Internet, in a sweep authorities called the
largest state crackdown of its kind.

Florida Attorney General Charlie Crist said those arrested were using
licensed pharmacies to get pills, then reselling the drugs on the
Internet without prescriptions.

Calling it a "horrific drug operation," Crist said. "Internet pill
pushers operate without regard for the law or medical necessity, and
certainly without regard to safety. Their primary focus is on making a
quick buck."

Crist said the arrests represent "Florida's largest state prosecution
of an organization filling orders for Internet drugs."

The accused head of the "pill mill" was Abel Rodriguez, who
authorities said filled more than $10 million worth of orders since
late 2003, including hydrocodone, a painkiller also known as
"synthetic heroin" that can kill if misused.

Law enforcement agents seized more than 650,000 pills valued at $1.9
million, and they said Friday that more than $2.2 million in cash and
property were forfeited. The Florida Health Department issued
emergency orders halting activity at licensed pharmacies it said were
involved in the operation.

Of those arrested, "none was a doctor, nurse or pharmacist," said
Jodie Breece, chief assistant prosecutor, emphasizing, "We went after
no pharmacists," only the resellers.

Rodriguez and others allegedly used "shell pharmacies" to buy from
pharmaceutical wholesalers, filling at least 2,000 orders per week,
according to the federal Drug Enforcement Administration.

At Nuria's La Familia Pharmacy in Miami, allegedly used by Rodriguez
to supply prescription drugs illegally, the person who answered the
phone would not identify himself and said family members were not
available for comment. Rodriguez does not have a listed home number,
and it was not known whether he has an attorney.

Department of Health authorities were expected to take control of the
pharmacy Friday afternoon.

The arrests followed a nine-month investigation known as "Operation
Backroom," in which several state and federal agencies cooperated. In
all, 22 people have been arrested, including several apprehended
earlier this year.

Throughout Florida, regional teams are hunting top drug sellers, said
Jerry Metz, chief of Field Services for the Florida Department of Law
Enforcement. "The idea is to cut the head of the snake, so it will
die."

"This happens to be a major racketeering case. Just think, your kid
could get these drugs on the Internet," said Amos Rojas Jr., special
agent in charge, Florida Department of Law Enforcement, Miami Region.
"The issue here is the ease with which kids can go online and purchase
these highly addictive drugs."

Rojas said he expects further arrests. He pointed out photographs of
bagged drugs ready to be shipped, and spilled powder at sites where
the pills were bottled. "Everything was cross-contaminated, which is
the other danger," he said.

Because agents seized computers, "We have a general idea who the
recipients were," and Florida authorities plan to notify drug
enforcement and other agents across the country to follow the drugs'
trail and apprehend those who sell them.

"I guarantee you, anyone who's buying (large quantities) is out there
pushing them in the schools," Rojas said.

An alert from the Department of Justice on the Internet warns that
buying prescription drugs from "cyber doctors" without a real
prescription or doctor's visit violates federal law and puts consumers
at legal risk.
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MAP posted-by: Larry Seguin