Codeine cough syrup comes under the “opioid” category of products, and is banned or restricted in several countries. In 2024, codeine cough syrup made up the majority of illegal products seized by Singapore HSA. | Representative photo courtesy: Pixabay/Original_Frank

Illegal health products, many of which are now advertised and sold through online platforms, pose a serious threat to public safety. It is the mission of governments around the world to curb their sale and purchase. In line with global trends, the Health Sciences Authority (HSA) of Singapore has worked with local and overseas agencies to seize 970,707 units of illegal health products and to remove 7,351 listings from local e-commerce and social media platforms. These are the figures for the year 2024, as released today.

These product confiscations and listing removals have been made possible by co-ordinated efforts involving targeted operations, intelligence sharing, and joint enforcement.

As per the HSA press release: “Codeine cough syrup made up the majority (54 per cent) of illegal products seized, followed by sexual enhancement medicines (19 per cent), sedatives (18 per cent), and other prescription medicines (9 per cent). Sixty-four persons were investigated for illegal supply of health products. These cases are undergoing investigation.”

Codeine cough syrup, though sold for medicinal purposes, can also cause addiction — it falls under the “opioid” category of medicines, according to the American Addiction Centers website.

The website said: “Along with therapeutic uses, codeine can be misused for its rewarding opioid effects such as relaxation and euphoria.” This is why several countries, including India and Singapore, have put codeine on the prohibited or restricted list.

165 litres of cough syrups seized in May 2024

HSA ...