Indonesian National Police IPR Raids Create Stir

UNCLAS JAKARTA 002301 SIPDIS COMMERCE FOR SBERLINGUETTE COMMERCE PASS USPTO JNESS USTR FOR DKATZ, RBAE TREASURY FOR IA-BAUKOL DEPT FOR EAP, EAP/MTS, EB/TPP, EB/TPP/BTA, S/CT, INL FOR BOULDIN, DOJ FOR CTS THORNTON, AAG SWARTZ, ICITAP FOR TREVILLIAN/BARR FBI FOR SETUI/SSA ROTH NCTC WASHDC SIPDIS SENSITIVE E.O. 12958: N/A TAGS: KIPR ETRD ECON SNAR KJUS ID SUBJECT: Indonesian National Police IPR Raids Create Stir REF: Jakarta 00011 Jakarta 02097 Jakarta 002035 Jakarta 01813 ¶1. (SBU) Summary: The impact from the largest recorded counterfeit pharmaceutical raid in the world that took place in Jakarta on July 23 is still reverberating within the Government of Indonesia (GOI). The pharmaceutical industry is reacting positively and proactively with pledged assistance, a media event, a public destruction ceremony and a chemical analysis of the seized drugs. The Indonesian National Police advise that more operations will be forthcoming. End Summary. Pharmaceutical Industry Takes Notice -------------- ¶2. (SBU) Subsequent to the largest recorded counterfeit pharmaceutical raid in the world two weeks ago (reftel B),the International Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Group (IPMG) and pharmaceutical security representatives visited Jakarta to meet with the Indonesian National Police (INP) and State Department/INL-funded, Department of Justice (DOJ) International Criminal Investigative Training Assistance Program (ICITAP) to praise the success and discuss future collaboration and assistance. Companies represented include Pfizer, Novartis, Sanofi-Aventis, and GlaxoSmithKline (GSK). On September 3, the IPMG will stage a media event to present the Police Chief for Metro Jakarta with an award. Testing the Seized Goods -------------- ¶3. (SBU) ICITAP facilitated an agreement between the INP and the pharmaceutical industry to conduct a chemical analysis of a large sample of the seized drugs for media publication. This is a temporary measure until the ICITAP Forensic Project can develop INP forensic laboratory capabilities that will allow INP to conduct its own chemical analysis in future. Media Event -------------- ¶4. (SBU) On September 7, the INP, in collaboration with the pharmaceutical industry, will stage a joint-public destruction ceremony of the seized pharmaceuticals. The police are concerned if not disposed of in a timely manner, the seized drugs could find their way back into the market. Police requested guidance from the Prosecutor's office on how to destroy the evidence without adversely affecting the criminal process. More to Come? -------------- ¶5. (SBU) The INP is continuing its investigative efforts into other illicit counterfeit drug operations that have been discovered as a result of these earlier raids. Police advise that additional seizures will likely result in the near future. HUME