Latest news with #drugtheft
CTV News
30-06-2025
- CTV News
Winnipeg pharmacist suspended for stealing drugs as part of addiction
A Winnipeg pharmacist has been fined and suspended for stealing pills to feed his addiction. The College of Pharmacists of Manitoba handed Scott Putz an 18-month suspension and fined him $15,000, plus an additional $10,000 to cover the costs of the investigation, for stealing drugs for his own use. In a decision from earlier this year detailed in the college's spring newsletter, it said Putz took pharmacy stock, added pills to other bottles to try to cover inventory discrepancy, took patient-returned substances, processed prescriptions without a valid prescription and took unprescribed pills while working. On March 22, 2021, the manager of the pharmacy that Putz was working at noticed inventory issues and found a different drug in a bottle. The manager also found a prescription was processed after hours and was not paid for. 'Mr. Putz's initials were associated with this prescription. Upon further investigation and after questioning Mr. Putz, (the manager) found other prescriptions for amphetamine products which gave rise to similar concerns, and suspected that Mr. Putz was participating in fraudulent activity,' the decision reads. The manager suspended Putz and then reported the concerns to the college. Two days later, Putz met with the college and admitted to taking pills for his own consumption. 'Mr. Putz admitted that he had been engaging in this conduct for approximately three to four years, and advised that he was suffering from substance abuse issues.' His licence was suspended by the college. Winnipeg police also confirmed that Putz was charged with fraud over $5,000 in 2021. In the decision, the college said Putz started a treatment program in November 2021 and still attends counselling twice a month. Following an investigation by the college, Putz pleaded guilty. He was given the 18-month suspension with a credit of 17 months served when he had an interim suspension between 2021 and 2023. On top of the suspension and fine, the college imposed restrictions on his licence for the next five years, which include not being allowed to be a manager or preceptor. He also can't work alone, must continue counselling and partake in random drug screenings.
BBC News
11-06-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Hillingdon Hospital: Drugs-theft doctor struck off
A doctor has been struck off for the second time "to protect the public" after stealing medication and trying to cover up the February 2023, Dr Babatunde Aranmolate removed drugs from a locked cupboard at Hillington Hospital, west London, without NHS England tribunal heard that four days later, he gave them to a personal contact who was not a patient and did not require emergency treatment. He also took medication prescribed to another 1999 and 2006, Dr Aranmolate was the subject of a series of misconduct findings relating to false claims, dishonesty and a breach of suspension. He was erased from the medical register in 2009 but reinstated in 2017. 'Duty to act decisively' Eight months after his recent misconduct, the doctor pressured two co-workers to give false statements, according to asked one of the doctors to prepare a report for the General Medical Council (GMC) claiming discussions and a verbal warning had taken also indicated to her that he had already notified the GMC that she would write a statement to confirm what was false as Aranmolate drafted an email report for another doctor to send to the GMC and in July 2024 was interviewed by a senior clinician about the matter but continued to a result, NHS England embarked on an inquiry about whether the medication had been stored the proceedings, the tribunal found Dr Aranmolate's fitness to practise to be impaired due to serious misconduct and multiple acts of tribunal considered a risk of repetition and ordered his erasure from the medical register and an immediate suspension "to protect the public". A Hillingdon Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust spokesperson said: "Our role as a healthcare provider is to ensure all healthcare professionals working within our organisation adhere to the highest standards of professional conduct and patient safety."When these standards are not followed, we have a duty to act decisively and swiftly in the interest of our patients."
CBS News
19-05-2025
- CBS News
San Jose fire captain charged after allegedly stealing painkillers, sedatives
A San Jose Fire Department captain is set to be arraigned Monday afternoon on felony drug charges for allegedly stealing drugs intended to help the ill or injured during emergencies. According to Santa Clara County District Attorney Jeff Rosen's office, 45-year-old Mark Moalem of Gilroy is accused of stealing vials of the painkiller morphine and the sedative midazolam from a locked box at a fire station. Moalem was arrested last month on suspicion of burglary, child endangerment and narcotics violations. "The community puts their lives in the hands of first responders during emergencies," Rosen said in a statement. "There is no excuse for violating the trust and safety of Santa Clara County residents." According to prosecutors, firefighters at Station 4 on Leigh Avenue reported on April 14 that a vial of morphine appeared to have been tampered. On the same day, a paramedic who administered morphine from another station to a patient reported that the drug did not have any effect on the patient's pain. A week earlier, prosecutors said Moalem was found between two fire trucks near where a narcotics box was kept at Station 29, a station he was not assigned to. Moalem was off duty at the time. An audit of all 34 fire stations in the city revealed that morphine and midazolam had been tampered with in at least 17 stations, prosecutors said. A box containing narcotics vials was also missing from a fire truck. An investigation by San Jose police found Moalem's vehicle in the area of Station 4 around the time the narcotics box was allegedly stolen. The driver appeared to have matched the firefighter's description. During a search of Moalem's home, prosecutors said a "large quantity" of needles was found, along with vials of morphine and midazolam that appeared to be from the fire department. Investigators also found four bags of IV saline solution, three of which appeared to be used. A 22-year veteran of the San Jose Fire Department, Moalem was previously arrested in 2013 for possession of a controlled substance and being under the influence of an opiate, according to the DA's office. He was also suspected in a 2023 incident where a bottle of morphine was stolen from a fire station. Prosecutors said Moalem faces prison time if convicted.
BBC News
13-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Zambia warns envoys after US ambassador reveals 'systemic theft' of medical aid
Zambia's foreign minister has warned diplomats against interfering in the country's affairs, days after the US ambassador raised concerns about the "systematic theft" of drugs donated to the southern African state. Mulambo Haimbe said there was an "increasing tendency" by envoys to ignore diplomatic channels, and this could undermine the "spirit of mutual respect".He did not name anyone, but his comments were seen as being directed at the US ambassador to Lusaka, Michael Gonzales. Last week, Gonzales called a press conference to announce that the US was cutting $50m (£37m) of health aid to Zambia because of the theft of life-saving medications that the US had provided for patients. He added that he had decided to go public after holding more than 30 fruitless meetings with senior Zambian officials. In his response, Haimbe said that addressing the government through the media amounted to interference and was in breach of diplomatic conventions."We remain open to addressing any matters of concern through appropriate diplomatic channels," the minister added. Last week, the US embassy said it had presented its findings of the alleged corruption to Zambian officials in April last year, and had offered help to stop further theft and to bring the culprits to justice. However, no action was taken by the Zambian authorities, it Monday, Zambia's Home Affairs Minister Jacob Mwiimbu said that a forensic audit on the alleged theft had been completed and handed over to security agencies for further action. About 75 people have been arrested in a countrywide crackdown that saw more than 400 health facilities raided over the alleged scam, he said. "There will be no sacred cows in this pursuit," Mwiimbu added. Gonzales said that an inspection carried out by US officials at more than 2,000 pharmacies last year had found that most were selling drugs and medical supplies donated by the Health Minister Elijah Muchima earlier said the problem of theft predated the current government, which took office in also said several Zambian officials had been sacked following the thefts identified by the US, and that "an advanced digital stock tracking system" had been set up to monitor the supply of cut in US assistance, expected to take effect next year, would affect drugs to treat malaria, HIV and the health minister has reassured Zambians that there were sufficient stocks of all drugs so there was "no immediate risk of shortages".Gonzales said the recent US measure was separate to the foreign aid freeze announced by President Donald Trump in freeze has affected health programmes across Africa, including shipments of critical medical supplies, among them HIV March, Zambia's President Hakainde Hichilema said Trump had "slapped us on both cheeks", saying it was time for his country to strengthen its treasury to procure its own US accounts for about a third of public health spending in Zambia, according to the US embassy. You may also be interested in: Bitcoin in the bush - the crypto mine in remote Zambia'My son is a drug addict, please help' - the actor breaking a Zambian taboo'My wife fears sex, I fear death' - impacts of the USAID freeze Go to for more news from the African us on Twitter @BBCAfrica, on Facebook at BBC Africa or on Instagram at bbcafrica
News24
08-05-2025
- Politics
- News24
US cuts $50 million health aid to Zambia over medicines theft
US to cut $50 million in medical aid to Zambia over failure to act on widespread drug theft. Stolen life-saving medicines meant for free distribution were found sold in pharmacies. Washington says Lusaka focused on minor arrests, ignoring ringleaders behind the theft. The United States will cut $50 million in annual medical funding to Zambia over its weak response to the alleged theft and sale of donated drugs meant to be provided for free, its ambassador said on Thursday. The US embassy had in 2024 demanded Lusaka act on 'the systemic theft of life-saving medicines and other products that were intended for free for the Zambian public', ambassador Michael Gonzales told reporters. These included life-saving medicines to treat malaria, HIV, and tuberculosis. 'Instead of investigating supply sources and pursuing the masterminds behind the theft of medicines, law enforcement operations have focused on low-level actors and have led to the arrest of only a few mid-level officials,' he said. There was no immediate comment from the health ministry. The 'United States can no longer justify to the American taxpayer continuing to provide such massive levels of assistance when the Zambian government will not take the necessary measures to protect this American investment,' the ambassador said. The debt-ridden southern African nation of 21 million people is heavily reliant on foreign aid. About one-third of its public health spending comes from the United States, according to Washington. The fraud was discovered in late 2021 and an inspection at more than 2 000 pharmacies last year had found that most were selling stolen goods, including products the United States provided for free, Gonzales said. Some pharmacies were selling items purchased by the Zambian government, the Geneva-based Global Fund and other donors. More than 64% of the population of copper-rich Zambia lives in poverty, a legacy of years of runaway corruption at the hands of a few politically connected people. President Hakainde Hichilema was elected in 2021 on a promise to root out graft and woo back investors. There were high-profile arrests at the beginning of his tenure and seizures of hotels and helicopters belonging to a former minister. However the fight against corruption has since slowed. 'I have not seen evidence of organized law enforcement response to the organized criminal endeavor' - Michael Gonzales The US has cut $50m (K1.4bn) funding to the Zambian health sector due to theft of drugs. — Dingindaba Jonah Buyoya (@BuyoyaJonah) May 8, 2025 Gonzales said the cuts he announced were separate from a broader review of foreign aid spending by the administration of President Donald Trump. Asked if the action to apply from January 2026 could be undone if the government took more action, the ambassador said: 'At this point, after three years of raising it and one year of intensive engagement and requests, we have made this decision.'
