FedEx indicted in prescription drug probe

[kpete]

Source: San Jose Mercury News

FedEx indicted in prescription drug probe
By Howard Mintz

[e-mail]

POSTED: 07/17/2014 03:16:21 PM PDT0 COMMENTS| UPDATED: 4 MIN. AGO

SAN FRANCISCO -- FedEX has been indicted by a federal grand jury on charges of shipping powerful prescription drugs for illegal online pharmacies, the latest major company targeted by federal law enforcement for playing a part in the proliferation of such drugs on the black market.

The indictment charges the world's largest cargo company with conspiracy to distribute controlled substances and distribution of misbranded drugs, as well as moves to force the company to forfeit at least $820 million linked to the proceeds from such shipments.

Federal prosecutors accused FedEx of ignoring warnings for nearly a decade from Congress, the DEA and other federal agencies that underground online pharmacies were using its shipping services to illegally distribute prescription drugs such as oxycodone and hydrocodone.

FedEx, the indictment alleges, "departed from its usual business practices" to accommodate the illegal online drug operations, despite pressure to reform.

Read more: http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_26168549/fedex-indicted-prescription-drug-probe

[rpannier]

1. Tomorrow's Rush Limbaugh Show

Will be his outrage at the Gov't picking on FEDEX
He's going to have to find a new shipper

[tymorial]

3. lol

I'm up for anything when it comes to attacking that bloated buffoon but you went to the way back machine for that one

[L0oniX]

6. +1

[billhicks76]

2. DEA Takes The 820 Million?

It should go into the general government coffers otherwise DEA has incentive to rob people and businesses. If this is true the CEOs of FedEx should be in prison like all other kingpins.

[tymorial]

5. I am torn on this issue.

On the one hand online pharmacies are largely disreputable businesses which exploit patients who are addicted to non schedule pain medications such as Ultram. However, some do not sell pain killers at all and only deal in non addictive medications which may or may not be covered by many prescription plans. Patients may be able to obtain these medications at a cost lower than what they may find at a corporate owned pharmacy such as CVS etc. 10 years ago when I was far more concerned with the hair on my head than i am today, I used to obtain propecia from an online pharmacy because it was cheaper and my insurance didn't cover the medication. I'm sure most of the online pharamacies referenced in this lawsuit are vampires but honestly, I don't trust agencies that are able to seize assets which are then allocated to their internal operating budgets. It incentivizes corruption.

[billhicks76]

8. FedEx Is Republican

A conservative from the infamous Skull & Bones society started FedEx. He is a major supporter of the Bushes and the Drug War. Just don't let DEA keep the money to go after farmers and herbalists.

[DeSwiss]

10. Yep.

[SwankyXomb]

4. Seize all their assets and turn them over to the USPS.

Since corporations are people now, let them face the same consequences.

[Rod Beauvex]

7. Have the drug makers been indicted?

Rainbows and unicorns, I know.

[alp227]

9. Other sources reporting this story:

San Francisco Chronicle, AP, USA Today, Bloomberg

[bemildred]

11. Interesting.

The Drug Warriors have found a new, financially rewarding target, which happens to be FedEx, the enemy of the Post Office and general all around spreader of poverty and disfunction. What's not to like?

[christx30]

12. So to keep this from happening,

FedEx would have had to either (a) opened people's packages to find out what they are shipping. Or, (b) had access to medical records to verify a doctor/patient relationship and verify a customer has a prescription? I don't like either choice.
My insurance won't pay for my wife's insulin unless we go through their mail-order business.
I doubt there is a case here. I worked for FedEx for a few weeks. I don't give a rip what was in packages. I didn't have time. As long as they got on the truck.
Make the DEA do their own job and bust these illegal online pharmacies. It's not FedEx's job.

[Capt.Rocky300]

13. +1000

[RobinA]

14. This

What's not to like is that policing this would be impossible by Fed Ex using means that most liberals would support. It's just more encroachment by law enforcement.

[question everything]

15. Agree. This was my first reaction

how should FedEx know what it is shipping? Its role is to.. ship.

After all, the government does not indict the postal service for delivering porno; it goes after the customers.