LONDON — A London man was sentenced to four months in prison for allegedly distributing "super-strength" penis pills containing four times the maximum single dose of tadalafil, the active ingredient in the prescription drug Cialis.
Xiao Ping Yan first became known to the U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in 2009 when he was officially cautioned for possession with intent to distribute Jia Yi Jian, "herbal" penis pills that later were identified to include the Cialis ingredient. Later, Yan committed a string of similar offences.
In 2010, he attempted to import more than 52,000 tablets from China, which contained the Cialis ingredient but was stopped by customs officers at Heathrow Airport. Following an MHRA investigation, Yan was sentenced to a 32-week suspended prison sentence.
"The latest investigation saw MHRA officers inspect Mr. Yan’s home address uncovering over 5,000 tablets hidden in boxes for diet tea,” MHRA head of enforcement Alastair Jeffrey said.
Yan was also ordered to pay £600 pounds in court costs.
The MHRA revealed in May that £8.6 million worth of unlicensed medication was seized in the U.K., including large hauls of illegal penis pills.