Original subtitles

NARRATOR: KNOCK OFF PHARMA IS BIGGER THAN HEROIN.

PRETTY BOY: YOU PROBABLY GOT ONE OF US IN EVERY STATE.

SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

NARRATOR: IT'S ON THE INTERNET.

IN THE PHARMACIES AND ON THE STREETS.

SGT. OPFERMAN: REGULAR NARCOTICS COME IN HERE BY

THE TON SO IT'S NOT HARD TO BRING PHARMACEUTICALS IN

HERE AT ALL.

NARRATOR: AND THE DEMAND IS GROWING.

BUT AS THE COPS CRACK DOWN.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: WE'RE GONNA END UP WITH MORE

PHARMACEUTICALS THAT CANNOT BE SOLD IN THE U.S. BECAUSE

THEY'RE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

NARRATOR: THE TRADE IS GETTING UGLY.

NOW THE DRUG YOU TAKE COULD BE FAKE.

AND THE CONSEQUENCES DEADLY.

KENDRA DAVIS: I'M CONSTANTLY RELIVING THE DEATH AND THE

SUFFERING OF MY MOTHER.

NARRATOR: IT'S FRIDAY MORNING AT A MEDICAL CENTER

IN A SOUTH WESTERN TOWN.

TJ IS A MAN ON A MISSION.

DR. BOB: HELLO DR. BOB.

TJ: HEY DOCTOR BOB IT'S TJ.

I'M ACTUALLY OUT FRONT HERE...

I WASN'T SURE IF YOU COULD POSSIBLY JUST RUN DOWN...

I'M KIND OF IN A HURRY TODAY.

NARRATOR: TJ IS A THIEF; HIS TARGET...

THE INSURANCE COMPANIES.

DR. BOB: OKAY... YEAH I'LL BE DOWN THERE.

YOU'RE IN YOUR TRUCK RIGHT?

TJ: I'M ACTUALLY IN A RED VEHICLE RIGHT NOW.

NARRATOR: HE DOESN'T USE A KNIFE OR A GUN...

HE WORKS A SCAM.

TJ: HEY DR. BOB.

NARRATOR: HIS CRIME...FRAUD.

TJ: HOW YOU DOING SIR?

DR. BOB: THAT'S OKAY.

TJ: I'M GONNA DO A CASH TRANSACTION THIS MONTH.

DR. BOB: ALRIGHT.

TJ: I'LL PROBABLY SEE YOU AGAIN NEXT WEEK.

AND THIS ONE'S GOOD TO GO TODAY...

THE OTHERS ON MONDAY YOU SAID?

DR. BOB: YOU BET YA.

TJ: THANK YOU SIR... COOL.

DR. BOB: ALRIGHT.

TJ: HAVE A GOOD WEEKEND... I'LL SEE YOU NEXT WEEKEND.

NARRATOR: DR. BOB IS ONE OF TJ'S PARTNERS IN CRIME.

TJ PAYS HIM TO WRITE OUT BOGUS PRESCRIPTIONS FOR MEDS

THAT TJ CAN SELL FOR GOOD MONEY.

TJ: I JUST PAID HIM CASH.

OBVIOUSLY THEY'RE NOT GONNA RISK LOSING THEIR LICENSE

BUT THEY'LL PUSH THE LIMIT.

NARRATOR: BUT THE DOCTORS ARE ONLY HALF OF THE SCAM.

TO GET THE PRESCRIPTIONS FILLED TJ NEEDS VALID ID'S.

TJ: A LOT OF THE CLIENTELE THAT I HAVE ARE

LIFETIME FRIENDS.

I PAY THEM FOR PRESCRIPTIONS.

YOU KNOW WE'LL ALWAYS BE FRIENDS BUT WE

KEEP THE BUSINESS... BUSINESS.

BECAUSE THE PEOPLE INVOLVED THEY'RE GONNA MAKE

THEIR LITTLE MONEY AND ALL THE WAY DOWN TO THE DOCTOR.

NARRATOR: TJ SELLS TO A DISTRIBUTOR.

HE'S A MIDDLEMAN IN A COMPLEX CHAIN.

IT'S A LUCRATIVE OCCUPATION BUT TJ'S FINDING

IT HARD TO KEEP UP WITH THE INCREASING DEMAND.

TJ: THIS BUSINESS IT'S REALLY HARD TO KEEP

A GOOD SUPPLY.

NARRATOR: ONE THING IS STOPPING HIM FROM

UPPING HIS SUPPLY.

HE'S GOT TO WATCH HIS NUMBERS.

TJ: BECAUSE WE CAN'T DO TOO MUCH ON THE INSURANCE

MONTH TO MONTH.

NARRATOR: IF HE FILLS TOO MANY PRESCRIPTIONS...

INSURERS WILL SMELL A RAT.

THIS MORNING THE PRESSURE IS ON.

HE'S PROMISED A BIG SUPPLY OF PRESCRIPTION MEDS

TO AN ILLEGAL DISTRIBUTOR.

TJ: I'VE BEEN DRIVING AROUND SINCE JUST AFTER 6:00

THIS MORNING JUST MEETING A FEW PEOPLE HERE AND THERE

AND DROP THIS OFF... PICK THAT UP... DO THIS...

MEET THAT GUY AND THERE IT IS.

NARRATOR: BUT PHARMACIES ARE GETTING WISER AND

TIGHTENING UP.

TJ TARGETS A DRIVE THRU PHARMACY HE HOPES WON'T BE

SO HOT ON SCRUTINY.

TJ: CAN I JUST DROP THESE OFF PLEASE?

THANK YOU.

TJ: YEAH I BELIEVE SO.

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT THIS LOCATION.

TJ: I DIDN'T HEAR YOU... WHAT'D YOU SAY?

NARRATOR: BUT THERE'S A PROBLEM.

NARRATOR: TJ DOESN'T HAVE HIS FRIEND'S ID AND HAS TO

DIG HIMSELF OUT OF A HOLE.

TJ: I THINK; I DIDN'T ASK HIM IF HE HAD INSURANCE.

THAT ONE'S NOT MINE...

HE JUST ASKED THAT I DROP IT OFF FOR HIM.

I'M NOT SURE IF HE'S GONNA PAY CASH OR USE HIS

INSURANCE ON IT.

SO I DIDN'T ASK ALL THE DETAILS SORRY.

TJ: YEAH.

SO I GUESS HE COULD SHOW YOU HIS INSURANCE CARD

AT THAT TIME OR PAY CASH.

NARRATOR: IT'S A TENSE MOMENT.

IF HE'S CAUGHT OUT HE COULD FACE A YEAR IN JAIL

FOR POSSESSION.

TJ: THANK YOU SO MUCH... HAVE A GOOD DAY.

PHARMACY ASSISTANT: YOU TOO...BE WELL.

NARRATOR: HE'LL TAKE A RAIN CHECK ON THAT PRESCRIPTION.

TJ IS NOW DOWN ON MEDS AND MEETS GABE...

ANOTHER MIDDLEMAN WHO HAS SURPLUS MEDS ON HAND.

GABE CHARGES TJ A WHOLESALE PRICE FOR HIS

STASH OF PILLS.

AND TJ TAKES IT ON CREDIT.

TJ: YOU KNOW I'M GOLDEN.

NARRATOR: WITH GABE'S LOAD AND THE REST OF HIS

PRESCRIPTION MEDS COLLECTED TJ HAS ENOUGH TO

SUPPLY THE DISTRIBUTOR.

AND TO MAKE HIMSELF $500 PROFIT.

IT'S A COMMON SCAM IN HEALTH CARE.

SGT. OPFERMAN: WELL WE'VE SEEN A REAL INCREASE

IN THE TYPE OF... WHAT WE CALL DIVERSION...

WHICH MEANS YOU KNOW TAKING THE PRODUCT OUT OF

LEGITIMATE SOURCES AND MOVING IT INTO THE BLACK MARKET.

NARRATOR: AS AN UNDERCOVER COP STEVE OPFERMAN

CAN'T REVEAL HIS IDENTITY.

HE'S ABOUT TO HIT THE STREETS OF EAST L.A.

TO GATHER SOME INTEL.

SGT. OPFERMAN: ARE NOTHING MORE THAN FRONTS.

THESE AREN'T THE KIND OF DRUGS THAT DRUG SEEKING PEOPLE

ARE LOOKING FOR...

SUCH AS HYDROCODONE AND OXYCONTIN.

IT'S NOT TO GET HIGH...

THESE ARE MAINTENANCE DRUGS.

THEY'RE VERY EXPENSIVE.

AND THE TYPES OF DRUGS THAT ARE COVERED THROUGH MEDICARE

IS PRIMARILY WHAT IS BEING TARGETED.

SO THOSE PARTICULAR PHARMACEUTICALS THIS IS WHAT

THE DIVERTERS ARE SEEKING.

NARRATOR: BUT FOR STEVE AND THE AUTHORITIES...

CLAMPING DOWN ON THE BLACK MARKET HAS A

PREDICTABLE ECONOMIC SIDE EFFECT.

SGT. OPFERMAN: AS WE DRIVE THIS PROBLEM UNDERGROUND

THE PRICES DO GO UP.

SO WE'VE SEEN ANTIBIOTIC PRODUCTS YOU KNOW WHEN WE

FIRST STARTED DOING THIS YOU KNOW MAYBE WENT FOR

$1 AND NOW THE SAME PILL IS GOING FOR $5.

YOU KNOW BECAUSE IT'S HARDER TO GET.

NARRATOR: BACK IN THE SOUTH WESTERN TOWN...

TJ'S DISTRIBUTOR IS WAITING FOR HIS CONSIGNMENT.

HE HAS UP TO 30 CUSTOMERS WANTING MEDS AND

HE'S STRUGGLING TO KEEP UP.

DOUGAN: THE PHONE NEVER STOPS.

I'M GETTING TEXT MESSAGES CONSTANTLY YOU KNOW

WHAT DO YOU DO?

DO YOU HAVE THIS YET?

CAN YOU GET THIS?

NARRATOR: DOUGAN FACES MASSIVE DEMAND.

SOME OF HIS CUSTOMERS WANT DRUGS THEIR

DOCTORS WON'T PRESCRIBE.

OTHERS DON'T HAVE ADEQUATE INSURANCE.

DOUGAN: MY DAY JUST CONSISTS OF WORKING AND GETTING

THESE PEOPLE THEIR MEDICINE.

WHEN I GET MY MEDICATIONS FROM TJ THEN I'LL START

MAKING CALLS AND I'LL GO AND MAKE MY DELIVERIES AS

QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE.

NARRATOR: DOUGAN IS IN FOR A HEFTY JAIL SENTENCE

IF HE'S CAUGHT.

DOUGAN: HELL YEAH THERE'S RISKS INVOLVED.

EVERY TIME I CARRY A PRESCRIPTION MEDICATION THAT

ISN'T PRESCRIBED TO ME I'M LOOKING AT FOR CERTAIN DRUGS...

AT YEARS... FOR EACH PILL THAT I HAVE ON ME.

IT'S THE SAME AS IF I WAS SELLING HEROIN...

AS IF I WAS DEALING CRACK.

I'M DEALING WITH THE SAME LAWS THAT THEY CAN USE

AGAINST ME FOR MEDICINE.

NARRATOR: DOUGAN HAS HIS REASONS FOR SELLING

SCAM PHARMA.

DOUGAN: MY MOM WAS DIAGNOSED WITH LUPUS ABOUT

20 YEARS AGO.

AND WATCHING THAT AS A KID GROWING UP AND DEALING

WITH THAT PAIN...

WATCHING HER RUNNING OUT OF MEDICATION EVERY MONTH...

MY MOM'S NOT A DRUG USER... MY MOM'S NOT A DRUG ABUSER...

SHE DOESN'T; DOESN'T GET HIGH.

AND WHEN SHE COULDN'T FIND ANY OTHER WAY TO DO IT

I FOUND IT FOR HER.

NARRATOR: NOW HE SEES HIMSELF AS A KIND OF

ROBIN HOOD...

HELPING OTHERS IN NEED.

DOUGAN: THE PEOPLE THAT ARE COMING TO ME FOR THINGS

LIKE INSULIN OR AUTO IMMUNE DISEASE DRUGS

OR ANTIBIOTICS...

THEY'RE GETTING THESE FROM ME BECAUSE THEY DON'T

HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE.

THEY'RE NOT SET UP IN A POSITION WHERE THEY CAN

AFFORD HEALTH INSURANCE...

EVEN WITH THE MANDATORY MANDATED HEALTH INSURANCE

ACT SO THEY COME TO ME AND THEY SAY "WHAT CAN YOU DO?"

NARRATOR: DOUGAN SELLS TO DRUG ABUSERS.

PROFITING FROM THEIR ADDICTION.

HIS ALTRUISM DOESN'T EXTEND TO THEM.

DOUGAN: I'M GONNA MAKE ENOUGH MONEY SELLING THE

PRESCRIPTION YOU KNOW PAINKILLERS AND NARCOTICS

FOR ALL THE OTHER PEOPLE THAT ARE ABUSING THEM.

I SELL TO THEM AT A HIGH PRICE AND I MAKE A LOT OF

MONEY DOING THAT.

AND THEN I TURN AROUND AND USE THAT MONEY TO GET THESE

OTHER PEOPLE WHAT THEY NEED.

NARRATOR: ACROSS TOWN ONE OF DOUGAN'S CUSTOMERS

IS WAITING ANXIOUSLY FOR A DELIVERY.

SAM: I'VE HAD TWO STROKES AND A HEART ATTACK AND

I'VE GOT PARKINSON'S AND DIABETES.

THE PARKINSON'S HURTS WHEN YOU SHAKE.

IT JUST REALLY PUTS ME INTO A DEEP DEPRESSION 'CAUSE

I'M HURTING SO BAD.

NARRATOR: HE STRUGGLES WITHOUT A COCKTAIL OF MEDS.

SAM: THIS IS PRAVASTATIN THAT'S FOR CHOLESTEROL.

THIS IS TRAMADOL AND I TAKE THAT SO I CAN SLEEP.

THAT'S MARAPEX THAT'S FOR MY PARKINSON'S.

NARRATOR: BUT HE WANTS MORE DRUGS THAN HIS

PRESCRIPTIONS ALLOW.

SAM: I RUN OUT AND I DON'T TAKE MORE THAN I'M SUPPOSED

TO BUT THEY DON'T GIVE ME ENOUGH.

THEY GIVE ME A 28 DAY SUPPLY BUT THEY WON'T LET ME

GET A REFILL FOR 30 DAYS.

NARRATOR: SAM IS TERRIFIED OF BEING FOUND OUT.

SAM: IF I GET ARRESTED I'D PROBABLY LAST ABOUT

A WEEK IN JAIL.

PROBABLY THE SCARIEST OF ALL IS I'M AFRAID THAT

MY DOCTOR OR MY THERAPIST WILL FIND OUT.

BUT I GOTTA DO WHAT I GOTTA DO.

NARRATOR: WHEN COPS CLAMP DOWN ON SUPPLIES FROM

SCAMMERS DEMAND GOES DEEPER UNDERGROUND PUSHING IT

INTO THE HANDS OF RUTHLESS OPPORTUNISTS.

BACK IN EAST LA...

SERGEANT STEVE OPFERMAN AND DETECTIVE JUAN GOMEZ ARE

WORKING UNDERCOVER.

THEY'RE TRACKING THE STREET SALE OF ILLEGAL ANTIBIOTICS

SMUGGLED FROM MEXICO.

SGT. OPFERMAN: THERE'S A LOT OF MISTRUST WITH OUR SYSTEMS

HERE AND OUR MEDICAL SERVICES.

THESE ARE PEOPLE THAT ARE SEEKING HEALTH CARE

TREATMENT NOT THROUGH LEGITIMATE MEANS AND IT'S

YOU KNOW A LOT HAS TO DO WITH A CULTURAL BELIEF IN

CERTAIN MEDICATIONS AND A CERTAIN WAY OF DOING THINGS.

FOR INSTANCE IN MEXICO A LOT OF PEOPLE THAT IMMIGRATE

HERE ARE USED TO GOING TO A HEALER THAT MAYBE YOU KNOW

IN SOMEBODY'S HOME...

THEY'RE JUST GONNA GO IN THERE TO GET A TREATMENT.

NARRATOR: STEVE HAS FOUND THAT SOME PEOPLE IN THIS

NEIGHBORHOOD AVOID REGULAR HEALTHCARE AND SELF MEDICATE

WITH BLACK MARKET MEDS.

SOME UNDOCUMENTED MIGRANTS ALSO FEAR A VISIT

TO A DOCTOR MEANS RISKING DEPORTATION.

DEMAND IS SO GREAT THAT MOM AND POP STORES ARE

SELLING MEDS UNDER THE COUNTER.

DET. GOMEZ THIS IS JUST ANOTHER PRODUCT THAT IS

ACTUALLY VERY PROFITABLE.

THEIR MAIN BUSINESS IS USUALLY SOMETHING ELSE.

THIS ONE HERE.

IT'S DISGUSTED AS A CLOTHING STORE WHERE THEY

SELL MEDICINES TOO.

RIGHT HERE. SEE THE PHARMACEUTICALS THERE

ON DISPLAY?

SOME OF YOUR STREET VENDORS ALSO SELL MEDICINES

ON THE SIDEWALK.

SGT. OPFERMAN: WE'VE SEEN PEOPLE ACTUALLY IN THE

PARK ITSELF SELLING TOO.

NARRATOR: STEVE AND JUAN SPOT A MAN THEY'VE BUSTED BEFORE.

THEY PUMP HIM FOR INFO.

SGT. OPFERMAN: OKAY.

NARRATOR: BUT PAIN RELIEVERS AREN'T THE ONLY

PHARMA OF CHOICE.

SGT. OPFERMAN: OKAY MR. THANK YOU.

SANTOS: ALRIGHT THANK YOU MY FRIEND.

NARRATOR: STEVE AND JUAN HUNT FOR THE MEDS

SNEAKED IN FROM MEXICO.

THE PROBLEM THEY FEEL...

LIES NOT ON THE STREETS OF LA BUT AT THE BORDER ITSELF.

SGT. OPFERMAN: YOU KNOW OUR REGULAR NARCOTICS COME IN BY

THE TON SO IT'S NOT HARD TO BRING PHARMACEUTICALS IN

HERE AT ALL.

IF YOU GO TO THE MEXICAN BORDER BASICALLY THEY HAVE A

GREEN LIGHT... RED LIGHT AND IT'S RANDOM.

SO YOU KNOW IF YOU HIT THE RED LIGHT YOU'RE GONNA GET

INSPECTED THROUGH SECONDARY.

IF YOU MAKE IT THROUGH YOU KNOW YOU'RE

PRETTY MUCH HOME FREE. NARRATOR: IT'S A

ROLL OF THE DICE.

GET CAUGHT SMUGGLING PRESCRIPTION PILLS AND YOU

FACE UP TO 20 YEARS IN JAIL.

BUT SOME CANNOT RESIST THE TEMPTATION.

SAUL: THIS IS ANTIBIOTICS.

I BUY FOR $2... SELL IT $4 A PILL.

NARRATOR: SAUL IS A SMUGGLER.

HE GETS HIS MEDS FROM MEXICO.

AND CAN DOUBLE HIS MONEY FOR SOME OF THE PILLS

HE SELLS IN THE U.S.

SAUL: I JUST WALK TO THE BORDER AND THAT'S IT.

I KNOW THE RISKS.

YOU NEED TO BE PRECAUTIOUS BUT NOT THAT PRECAUTIOUS NO.

NARRATOR: HE HAS A BASIC SMUGGLING TECHNIQUE.

NARRATOR: MOST OF SAUL'S CLIENTELE ARE RETAIL BUSINESSES.

SAUL: LIKE A REGULAR STORE...

LIKE A MARKET PLACE WHERE YOU CAN GO BUY MEAT...

MILK... WHATEVER.

I CAN...I THINK THEY RESELL IT TO THE PEOPLE OVER

THERE YOU KNOW.

NARRATOR: HE SELLS ANYTHING FROM VIAGRA TO VALIUM

BUT ONE THING GOES LIKE HOT CAKES.

SAUL: 95% OF THE THINGS THAT THEY ASK FOR IS ANTIBIOTICS

BECAUSE IT'S HARD TO GET THEM.

SO IF THEY NEED SOME ANTIBIOTICS I BRING

THEM OVER THERE.

NARRATOR: BUT WITHOUT THE RIGHT MEDICAL SUPERVISION

SOME STREET DEAL MEDS COULD KILL.

SGT. OPFERMAN: SOMETIMES PEOPLE ACTUALLY GET INJURED OR

END UP IN A HOSPITAL.

OCCASIONALLY SOMEBODY MAY ACTUALLY DIE FROM THESE THINGS.

NARRATOR: SUCH IS THE RISK TO THE AMERICAN CONSUMER

THAT STREET PHARMA IS NOW ON THE FEDERAL RADAR.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: WE'RE PROBABLY GONNA END UP WITH

MORE ITEMS THAT CANNOT BE SOLD IN THE U.S. BECAUSE

THEY'RE POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS.

NARRATOR: DANIEL SHOWALTER AND HIS TEAM OF HOMELAND

SECURITY SPECIAL AGENTS ARE WORKING WITH LOCAL COPS TO

BUST SUSPECT PHARMACIES.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: THE MOST IMPORTANT THING FOR US

IS THE DRUGS.

BUT FIRST WE NEED THAT QUANTITY AND I THINK.

DETECTIVE: YEAH THE QUANTITY MILLIGRAM HOW MUCH OF THE

DRUG WE'RE ACTUALLY TAKING.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: SEE NOW IF WE CAN GET THAT DETAILED

THEN THAT MAKES IT THAT MUCH EASIER FOR US.

DETECTIVE: AND THAT'S HOW DETAILED WE WANT IT.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: OKAY.

HEY GB HOLD FOR ME BEFORE YOU ROLL.

MAN: ALRIGHT COPY THAT.

NARRATOR: THE DRUG THEY'RE TARGETING TODAY IS AN

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY CALLED DIPROSPAN.

PRESCRIBED FOR A NUMBER OF CONDITIONS INCLUDING

RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS...

HAY FEVER AND ACNE.

BUT DIPROSPAN IS BANNED IN THE UNITED STATES.

SELF MEDICATE THE DOSE AND YOU COULD BE IN BIG TROUBLE.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: WHAT CONCERNS US THE MOST OUT OF

ANY OF THE OTHER PHARMACEUTICALS IS THAT

IT'S AN INJECTABLE.

SO THE FACT THAT THEY'RE INJECTING THIS LIQUID INTO

THEIR BODIES DIRECTLY CAUSES A LOT OF CONCERN ABOUT THE

GENERAL PUBLIC SAFETY.

WE BELIEVE THAT IT WAS SMUGGLED INTO THE U.S.

POTENTIALLY THROUGH LAND BORDER.

BUT DIPROSPAN IS JUST ONE OF MANY PHARMACEUTICALS THAT

ARE SMUGGLED INTO THE U.S.

AND THE REASON FOR IT IS BECAUSE THERE IS A DEMAND.

OKAY.

NARRATOR: WHEN DANIEL AND HIS OFFICERS ARRIVE

AT THE PHARMACY...

THE OWNER ISN'T LETTING THEM IN.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: AND MOVEMENT GLEN?

WE CAN ALSO PICK THAT LOCK.

HERE SHE COMES... HERE SHE COMES.

NARRATOR: SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: POLICE WITH A WARRANT.

NARRATOR: HOMELAND SECURITY SPECIAL AGENTS AND

LOCAL PD ARE RAIDING A SUSPECT PHARMACY.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: WE NEED A PHOTOGRAPH.

NARRATOR: THEY'RE TARGETING AN ILLEGAL INJECTABLE

ANTI-INFLAMMATORY CALLED DIPROSPAN.

INJECTING TOO MUCH COULD CAUSE SERIOUS SIDE EFFECTS...

INCLUDING BLINDNESS.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: WE'LL GET THROUGH THIS PRETTY QUICK.

NARRATOR: BUT IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR DANIEL.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: REALLY NOT A LOT OF PRODUCT FOR A

STORE YOU KNOW.

BUT WE'LL GET WHAT WE GET.

NARRATOR: OFFICERS CHECK THE CASH REGISTER BUT

DON'T HAVE MUCH LUCK.

DANIEL AND HIS TEAM PILE THE PHARMA ON THE SHOP FLOOR.

THEY SYSTEMATICALLY CHECK EVERY ITEM.

BUT THEY HAVEN'T FOUND A SINGLE BOX OF DIPROSPAN.

THEY SWEEP THE BACK OFFICE.

AND FIND HUNDREDS OF ENVELOPES FULL OF CASH.

IT'S NO SMALL CHANGE IT'S $50,000.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: THAT'S A LOT OF CASH IN A HAMPER.

NARRATOR: THE FIND IS ALARMING.

A TON OF CASH AND A LACK OF DIPROSPAN STOCK

COULD MEAN OFFICERS ARE TOO LATE.

BUT JUST AS THEY ARE ABOUT TO GIVE UP HOPE.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: IS THAT IT? IS THAT

DIPROSPAN THERE?

OFFICER: THERE'S DIPROSPAN IN THERE.

DANIEL SHOWALTER: OKAY.

SO IT'S LEGITIMATELY MADE

IN MEXICO BUT THEN SMUGGLED INTO THE US.

$35 TO $60 IS WHAT THEY'RE CHARGING.

NARRATOR: IT MAY LOOK LIKE A SMALL HAUL BUT AT LEAST

THESE ILLEGAL AND POTENTIALLY DANGEROUS DRUGS

ARE OFF THE STREETS.

BRANDED PRODUCTS CAN PROVIDE COPS WITH LEADS.

BUT SOME BLACK MARKETEERS AVOID BRANDS ALTOGETHER.

THEY BUY THE INGREDIENTS...

FIND THE FORMULATION.

PRETTY BOY: HOW MUCH OF THAT SYRUP THERE?

HOW MANY

OH 105 OH OKAY.

NARRATOR: AND MAKE THEIR OWN.

PRETTY BOY: SOME OF THAT'S GONNA GET LOST SO I'M GONNA

GO OVER A LITTLE BIT.

NARRATOR: BUT THE CHEMISTRY IS SKETCHY.

PRETTY BOY: WE'RE ALMOST 99% POSITIVE OUR STUFF IS A

REPLICA OF WHAT CAN BE GOTTEN ON THE MEDICAL MARKET.

NARRATOR: IT'S A BUSY TUESDAY NIGHT AND THESE TWO

ENTREPRENEURS HAVE SET UP A PHARMACEUTICAL FACTORY

IN THEIR KITCHEN.

PRETTY BOY: WHAT WE'RE MAKING NOW IS AN ESTROGEN

BLOCKER WHERE MALES TEND TO GET FEMALE BREASTS

AND WHATNOT.

OR IT'S FOR BODYBUILDERS THAT WANT A

HIGH LEVEL TESTOSTERONE.

NARRATOR: PRETTY BOY AND HEIDI ARE SELF-TAUGHT.

THEY WHIP UP COPIES OF MEDICINES TO ORDER.

PRETTY BOY: EVERYTHING'S A MATH GAME.

MATH AND METRICS AND YOUR WEIGHT OF LIQUID AND YOUR

WEIGHT OF POWDER THAT'S HOW YOU DEVELOP YOUR MILLIGRAMS.

TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH LIKE I WAS BAD AT MATH...

I REALLY ARE MORE OF AN ARTIST SO.

NARRATOR: TO HELP HIM OUT...

PRETTY BOY HAS A RECIPE BOOK ON HAND.

PRETTY BOY: I DON'T WANNA GO TOO DEEP IN THIS BUT THIS IS

KIND OF OUR BIBLE RIGHT HERE.

IT'S LIKE HOW WE COOK UP EVERYTHING.

AND IT PRETTY MUCH HAS ALL OUR PILL RECIPES.

WHAT I'M DOING IS GETTING A COUPLE OF INJECTABLE OILS

READY HERE TO GO.

THESE ARE TEN MILLILITER BOTTLES.

SOME OF THIS IS HOUSEHOLD STUFF LIKE GRAPE SEED OILS...

YOU CAN GET THAT AT WHEREVER BUT WHAT THE MAIN

PART IS-IS THE ADDITIVE.

NARRATOR: PRETTY BOY SOURCES HIS KEY INGREDIENTS

FROM RUSSIA.

TONIGHT HE'S MAKING A SYNTHETIC STEROID

CALLED TRENBOLONE.

FARMERS OFTEN USE IT TO BEEF UP CATTLE.

HUMAN CONSUMPTION IS BANNED.

BUT PEOPLE STILL USE IT.

PRETTY BOY: OKAY SO THE ALCOHOL THAT I

JUST ADDED THERE...

IT'S NOT YOUR AVERAGE RUBBING ALCOHOL...

ITS BENZYL ALCOHOL.

AND WHAT THAT DOES IS IT MELTS THIS DOWN.

THIS IS YOUR ACTUALLY PRODUCT RIGHT HERE.

NARRATOR: THESE INJECTABLE VIALS ARE A BIG HIT.

PRETTY BOY: WITH OUR AIDS PATIENTS AND CANCER PATIENTS

THEIR BODIES ARE FALLING APART SO WHAT SOME OF THIS

STUFF DOES IS IT'S BUILDING IT BACK UP.

IT'S ACTUALLY THE HUMAN GROWTH HORMONE IN A VIAL.

NARRATOR: AIDS AND CANCER SUFFERERS NUMBER

AMONG HIS CLIENTELE AND THAT SUITS HIM FINE.

PRETTY BOY: IT FEELS GOOD TO HELP SOME OF THESE

CANCER PATIENTS OUT.

THAT'S PROBABLY THE ONLY HEART-WARMING THING I GET

OUT OF THIS BESIDES LOOKING AT MY BANK ACCOUNT

AT THE END OF THE WEEK.

I'VE ACTUALLY WENT TO MEDICAL SCHOOL MYSELF SO I

KNOW A LITTLE BIT BUT WE'VE GOT A COUPLE OF OTHER GUYS

ON OUR TEAM THAT ARE MORE EXTENSIVE IN THAT AREA.

NARRATOR: FOR PRETTY BOY CUSTOMER SERVICE OUTWEIGHS

LACK OF EXPERTISE.

PRETTY BOY: WELL EVERYBODY HAS DIFFERENT REACTIONS TO

EVERYTHING BUT THE ONLY WAY IT'S GONNA BE BAD IS IF

SOMEBODY'S HUMAN BODY IS WIRED WRONG...

IF THEIR BODY'S DIFFERENT THAN THE MORE MAJORITY

OF REGULAR HUMANS.

SO I'M NOT TOO WORRIED ABOUT THAT.

AND IF THEY DO...

WHAT WE DO SOMETIMES WE'LL CUT 'EM A DEAL ON THEIR

NEXT ORDER AND GIVE 'EM SOMETHING DIFFERENT

AND PRESCRIBE 'EM SOMETHING NEW.

NOT ACTUALLY PRESCRIBE BUT LIKE HAND IT TO 'EM.

NARRATOR: HE CAN AFFORD TO GIVE AWAY AN

OCCASIONALLY FREEBIE.

PRETTY BOY: IF I MADE $10,000 A WEEK...

I'D END UP TAKING $2,000 OF THAT.

BASICALLY WHATEVER I'M PUSHING OUT MY DOOR

I'M GETTING 25% OF.

NARRATOR: UNSURPRISINGLY PRETTY BOY FEELS

PRETTY UPBEAT ABOUT HIS SECTOR OF THE BLACK ECONOMY.

PRETTY BOY: OH WE'RE GETTING STRONGER EVERY DAY.

AND YOU'VE PROBABLY GOT ONE OF US IN EVERY STATE SOMEWHERE.

SUPPLY AND DEMAND.

NARRATOR: DEMAND FOR BLACK MARKET PHARMA IS INSATIABLE

BUT EVEN MOM AND POP KITCHEN CHEMISTS LIKE PRETTY BOY

AND HEIDI CAN NEVER HOPE TO SATISFY IT ALL.

THIS OPENS UP THE DOOR TO MORE HEAVYWEIGHT SUPPLIERS...

MANY OF WHOM ARE JUST A CLICK AWAY.

ORDERING PHARMA ONLINE HAS OPENED UP THE U.S. TO A

PHARMACEUTICAL INVASION FROM ALL CORNERS OF THE WORLD.

BUT THE PHARMA IS NOT ALWAYS WHAT IT CLAIMS TO BE.

LAX INTERNATIONAL MAIL FACILITY...

ONE OF THE BIGGEST IN AMERICA.

CUSTOMS OFFICERS HERE ARE ON THE PROWL FOR CONTRABAND.

TOP OF THEIR HIT LIST...

PHARMA THAT'S NEITHER SCAMMED NOR CLONED BUT FAKE.

CHRISTIAN CRAWFORD: ON ANY GIVEN DAY...

UP TO 50% OF ALL THE PHARMACEUTICALS THAT WE GET

HERE CAN BE EITHER COUNTERFEIT OR ILLICIT.

NARRATOR: IT'S 7.30AM; CHRISTIAN CRAWFORD IS

STARTING HIS DAY.

HE'S CHECKING OUT ANYTHING THAT LOOKS SUSPICIOUS.

HIS PRIORITY IS FAKE PHARMA.

CHRISTIAN CRAWFORD: US LETTING COUNTERFEITS GO BY...

IT'S REALLY HARD FOR US TO DO SO WE DON'T DO IT.

ANY KIND OF COUNTERFEIT IS HIGHLY DANGEROUS.

YOU JUST DON'T KNOW WHAT YOU'RE GETTING...

WHAT KIND OF PHARMACEUTICALS.

NARRATOR: HE QUICKLY SPOTS SOMETHING ON THE X-RAY.

CHRISTIAN CRAWFORD: LOOKS LIKE A BIG BLOB.

GOODNESS GRACIOUS.

WHAT WE GOT HERE?

NARRATOR: THIS BOX IS FROM PERU.

CHRISTIAN CRAWFORD: WE'LL GET BUNDLES OF SAY...

ANTIBIOTICS THINGS LIKE THAT...

THAT AREN'T IN ACTUAL PACKAGES...

I MEAN THEY'RE JUST LITERALLY IN BAGS.

IT SMELLS... YOU CAN TELL IT'S AN ANTIBIOTIC

JUST BY THAT.

IF YOU'VE EVER BEEN SICK AND YOU HAD TO POP THOSE

PILLS AND YOU OPEN UP THAT...

THAT ANTIBIOTIC JAR AND THAT SMELL JUST HITS YOU.

SO IT MAKES YOU ACTUALLY... MAKES YOU NAUSEATED.

NARRATOR: THESE PILLS LOOK REAL.

CHRISTIAN CRAWFORD: SO THERE'S 30,000 ANTIBIOTICS.

THEY'LL PROBABLY SELL A REGIMEN FOR MAYBE $25.

THAT WOULD FILL A LOT OF PRESCRIPTION BOTTLES.

NARRATOR: ON THE STREET THEY COULD BE WORTH IN THE

REGION OF $80,000.

A HAUL LIKE THIS IS UNUSUAL.

IN A BID TO AVOID DETECTION...

FAKE PHARMA SUPPLIERS ARE TENDING TO SHIP THEIR

PRODUCTS ONE COMPONENT AT A TIME.

CHRISTIAN CRAWFORD: THE TREND IS LARGE POWDER FORMS

OF WHATEVER THE DRUG IS.

SO WHAT THEY'RE DOING NOW IS THEY'RE TRYING TO

IMPORT IN... SAY THE POWDER FORM OF SOME DRUG.

ONE DAY WE'LL GET A HUGE SHIPMENT OF CAPSULES...

BLANK CAPSULES.

AND THEN ANOTHER TIME WE GOT THE ACTUAL

PILL MAKING MACHINES.

IT'S GOING TO SOME BACK ROOM OR SOME SMALL FACTORY

THAT THEY'RE MAKING THE PILLS OUT AND THEN SELLING

THEM ON THE STREET.

NARRATOR: MANY AMERICANS BUY THEIR MEDS ONLINE...

TO SAVE MONEY BUT THEY'RE VULNERABLE TO

RIP OFF OR WORSE.

BACK AT THE LA COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT...

UNDERCOVER OPERATIVE STEVE OPFERMAN AND HIS

OFFICERS ARE FEELING THE FORCE OF A GLOBAL PHENOMENON.

FAKE PHARMA THAT INFILTRATED U.S. BORDERS HAS

BEEN SEIZED IN A DAWN RAID.

SGT. OPFERMAN: THE DRUGS THAT WE'VE COLLECTED TODAY...

THE COUNTERFEITS ARE MADE GENERALLY IN INDIA OR CHINA.

THE SUPPLY CHAIN YOU KNOW GOES THROUGH PAKISTAN TO

THOSE COMMUNITIES IN THE UK...

WHERE THEY MAIL IT THROUGHOUT THE WORLD.

DR. WONG: AND SOME OF THESE ARE COUNTERFEIT.

THEY COME FROM A DIFFERENT COUNTRY AND THERE'S NO WAY

TO TELL WHETHER OR NOT THEY ARE THE GENUINE ARTICLE

OR NOT.

NARRATOR: WONG IS A PHARMACIST.

HE'S CHECKING THIS SEIZURE FOR DANGEROUS INGREDIENTS

MASQUERADING AS MEDS.

DR. WONG: AND LET'S SEE HERE.

BUT IN HERE WE HAVE COUNTERFEIT ANTIBIOTICS TOO

THAT REQUIRE PRESCRIPTIONS AS WELL TOO.

AND THIS IS WHAT WE'RE TRYING TO AVOID...

TO MAKE SURE THAT THE GENERAL PUBLIC ISN'T GONNA

BE A VICTIM OF THIS BECAUSE THIS CAN LEAD TO ANY TYPE OF

ALLERGY...INFECTION OR EVEN DEATHS.

NARRATOR: AUTHORITIES ARE FIGHTING AGAINST THE

INFLUX OF FAKE PHARMA.

DOWN IN THE BASEMENT AT L.A. COUNTY

SHERIFF'S HEADQUARTERS...

ERICK AGUILAR IS RUNNING OUT OF SPACE.

ERICK AGUILAR: WE PROBABLY BURN ABOUT $3 MILLION WORTH OF

PHARMACEUTICALS A YEAR.

NARRATOR: ERICK IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH OFFICER.

HE'S STANDING IN AN ALADDIN'S CAVE OF SEIZED GLOBAL PHARMA.

ERICK AGUILAR: THIS STUFF IS ACTUALLY VERY EXPENSIVE.

THIS PARTICULAR BOX PROBABLY HAS A $100,000 STREET VALUE.

IT'S SHIPPED FROM INDIA TO EL SALVADOR AND ENDS UP HERE.

IF WE CAUGHT THIS AT THE VERY END OF THE CHAIN...

I WOULD THINK IT WOULD HAVE HAD TO HAVE BEEN IN AT LEAST

FIVE DIFFERENT HANDS.

WHEN WE GET IT AT THE VERY END OF THE CHAIN THEY'LL SAY

"OH I DON'T KNOW ANYTHING."

AND YOU KNOW THERE'S NO FURTHER INFORMATION SO

THAT'S THE DIFFICULT PART FOR US.

NARRATOR: CRIMINAL GANGS BREAK DOWN LARGER STASHES

INTO SMALLER CONSIGNMENTS...

MAKING THEM EASIER TO MOVE AROUND THE WORLD AND

VIRTUALLY IMPOSSIBLE FOR THE AUTHORITIES TO TRACE.

ERICK AGUILAR: THIS IS COUNTERFEIT VIAGRA.

IT'S GOT THE PFIZER LOGO ON THERE TOO.

NARRATOR: SOME ARE GOOD LOOKING FAKES AND OTHERS

FALL SHORT OF THE MARK.

ERICK AGUILAR: AND THESE ARE LABELS THAT WERE PRINTED ON

AN INKJET PRINTER AT HOME.

NARRATOR: THESE BOXES HAVE REACHED THE END OF THE LINE

BUT IT'S A SMALL BATTLE WON IN THE WAR

AGAINST THE FAKERS.

AUTHORITIES ARE FIGHTING A MERCILESS OPPONENT MOTIVATED

BY PROFITS WITH A GENUINE CONTEMPT FOR CONSUMERS.

BIG PHARMA COMPANIES ARE SQUARING UP AGAINST THEM IN

A BID TO STAMP THEM OUT AND MANUFACTURING GIANT

PFIZER IS FIRST IN LINE.

JOHN CLARKE: THE HIDEOUSNESS OF THE CRIME IS THEY HAVE

SO LITTLE REGARD FOR THE PATIENT.

YOU KNOW... THE PATIENT'S HEALTH IS NOT OF THEIR CONCERN.

THE UNFORTUNATE TREND IS THAT IT'S JUST

A SIGNIFICANTLY GROWING PROBLEM.

NARRATOR: COUNTERFEITERS DON'T CARE WHAT THEY USE.

FAKE VERSIONS OF DRUGS HAVE CONTAINED

BRICK DUST...PAINT... ANTI-FREEZE AND IN ONE CASE

IN SOUTH KOREA...

THE REMAINS OF HUMAN FETUSES.

VIAGRA IS ONE OF THE COMPANY'S BEST SELLERS...

MAKING PFIZER OVER A BILLION DOLLARS IN 2012.

IT'S NOW FAST BECOMING THE MOST FAKED PILL IN THE WORLD.

AMY CALLANAN: ONE OF THESE BAGS IS AUTHENTIC AND

ONE OF THESE BAGS IS COUNTERFEIT.

NARRATOR: IT'S SENIOR SCIENTIST AMY CALLANAN'S JOB

TO TEST UP TO 1,000 DIFFERENT SAMPLES OF VIAGRA

A YEAR AND TO WORK OUT WHETHER THEY'RE REAL OR FAKE.

AMY CALLANAN: IT'S VERY TOUGH BUT IT'S IN

THIS COLUMN SOMEWHERE.

IT'S NOT DIRTY... IT'S NOT TURQUOISE...

IT'S NOT DARK... IT'S NOT TURQUOISE...

IT'S NOT DARK... IT'S NOT DIRTY.

IT'S THIS ROW... THESE ARE THE AUTHENTICS.

THERE THEY ARE.

IF YOU LIKE THE COLOR BLUE THIS IS A GREAT PLACE TO WORK.

NARRATOR: THE BIG MANUFACTURERS HAVE REASON

TO FEEL THREATENED.

THE FAKE PHARMA MARKET IS THOUGHT TO BE WORTH

UP TO $200 BILLION.

THAT MAKES IT MORE PROFITABLE THAN HEROIN.

AND PFIZER IS ON A MISSION TO WEED OUT THE

COUNTERFEITERS STEALING ITS NAME.

JOHN CLARKE: AS CRIMINAL ORGANIZATIONS HAVE RECOGNIZED

WHAT A TREASURE TROVE COUNTERFEITS REPRESENT...

IN TERMS OF PROFITS... IT'S UNGODLY.

NARRATOR: THE FOLKS AT PFIZER HAVE THE EXPERTISE

TO SPOT A FAKE.

BUT THE SAME CAN'T BE SAID FOR MOST CONSUMERS.

AMY CALLANAN: HERE WE HAVE UNASYN...

IT'S AN INJECTABLE ANTIBIOTIC.

THESE CAME FROM THE PHILIPPINES.

WE LOOKED AT THE LABELS AND THEY'RE DIFFERENT...

WHICH IS A LITTLE SUSPICIOUS AND THEN WHEN WE

TESTED THE CONTENTS OF THESE VIALS THERE WAS

NO ACTIVE INGREDIENT...

NO ANTIBIOTIC IN IT WHATSOEVER.

JOHN CLARKE: THE SOPHISTICATION IS MAKING

THE MEDICINE APPEAR AUTHENTIC.

THEIR CONCENTRATION IS ON THE APPEARANCE AND

SO THE MANUFACTURING OF COUNTERFEIT LABELS...

OF COUNTERFEIT BOXES... OF COUNTERFEIT HOLOGRAMS...

THOSE ARE THE THINGS THAT ARE BECOMING PROBLEMATIC.

NARRATOR: DESPITE RESOURCES AND EXPERTISE...

PFIZER IS FACING A TIDAL WAVE OF SOPHISTICATED

COUNTERFEITING.

CLEVER PACKAGING IS DECEIVING THE PUBLIC AND

PUTTING LIVES IN DANGER.

NARRATOR: IN THE WORLD OF FAKE PHARMA...

PRODUCERS ARE GETTING SAVVY WITH THEIR LABELLING...

DISGUISING HARMFUL INGREDIENTS AND SHIPPING

THEM OUT TO MILLIONS OF INNOCENT CONSUMERS.

AFTER CHINA...

SOUTH ASIA IS A BIG FAKE DRUG HOTSPOT.

PAKISTAN... ABOUT 10 MILES SOUTH OF THE

COUNTRY'S CAPITAL... ISLAMABAD...IS RAWALPINDI.

A FAST GROWING CITY AND HOME TO FAKE PHARMA

PRODUCERS WITH MONEY ON THEIR MINDS.

SHEHZAD: WE DON'T TELL ANYONE WE MAKE MEDICINE.

NARRATOR: IT'S 10:00 AM AND SHEHZAD IS STARTING

ANOTHER EIGHT HOUR SHIFT PACKING THOUSANDS

OF FAKE PAINKILLERS. SHEHZAD: SOMEONE

ELSE WAS MAKING UP THE

PHARMACEUTICAL FORMULA.

IT WOULD COME HERE AS A MADE UP FORMULA.

THEY'D TELL US TO FILL IT... PACK IT AND WE'D DO IT.

WHEN I REALIZED THAT I COULD DO IT ALL I STARTED

TO WORK FOR MYSELF.

NARRATOR: SHEHZAD MAY BE A FREE AGENT BUT HE'S

ON A BASIC WAGE.

THE MAN MAKING THE REAL MONEY IS THE DISTRIBUTOR

HE'S PACKING FOR.

SHEHZAD: WHEN HE GETS IT PACKED THEN HIS TOTAL COST

IS 25 TO 30 RUPEES AFTERWARDS WHEN HE SELLS IT;

HE WILL SELL FOR 150 TO 200 RUPEES.

HE GAINS 300% TO 400%... 3 TO 4 TIMES MORE.

NARRATOR: SHEHZAD IS GRATEFUL FOR A JOB AND DOESN'T

ASK ANY QUESTIONS.

SHEHZAD: WE DO NOT KNOW IF IT REMAINS IN PAKISTAN

OR IS EXPORTED... BUT THEY ARE MADE BY US...

THEN PEOPLE TAKE IT AWAY.

NARRATOR: JUST DOWN THE HALLWAY ANOTHER OUTFIT IS

HARD AT WORK.

THESE GUYS MAKE FAKE COUGH MIXTURE ON SITE.

ILYAS: THESE ARE NOT TOTALLY FAKE.

THESE ARE NOT AS FAKE AS PEOPLE SAY.

IF IT DOESN'T WORK 100% OF THE TIME...

IT MUST WORK FOR 50%.

NARRATOR: ILYAS IS A PACKER.

HE'S ONE OF THE 25 STRONG TEAM.

BUT IT'S MAZHAR ALI WHO'S THE BRAINS BEHIND

THE OPERATION.

MAZHAR ALI: I'VE BEEN MAKING MEDICINES FOR 3 TO 4 YEARS.

WE MAKE SPECIAL MEDICINES FOR FEVERS AND FOR THE THROAT.

NARRATOR: MAZHAR HAS A NATURAL TALENT FOR CHEMISTRY...

DESPITE NOT HAVING ANY QUALIFICATIONS.

MAZHAR ALI: THE MARKET IS FULL OF THESE THINGS...

DIFFERENT SALTS... EPHEDRINE...CIPROFLOXACIN

IT IS AVAILABLE CHEAPLY FROM THE MARKET.

WE MAKE AND MIX IT... PACK IT INTO BOTTLES THEN

WE TAKE THE MEDICINE TO MARKET.

NARRATOR: AS LONG AS HE HAS THE RIGHT INGREDIENTS

MAZHAR CLAIMS HE CAN PRETTY MUCH COOK UP ANYTHING.

MAZHAR ALI: HEPATITIS...

HIV AND DIABETES MEDICINES WE CAN EASILY PREPARE THEM

BECAUSE THEIR SALTS ARE AVAILABLE IN THE MARKET.

WE CAN MAKE COPIES EASILY.

NARRATOR: ONCE THEIR PHARMA LEAVES THE BUILDING...

IT WILL JOURNEY HUNDREDS OR POSSIBLY THOUSANDS

OF MILES FROM THE STREETS OF RAWALPINDI.

MAZHAR ALI: WHETHER THEY TAKE IT TO

AFGHANISTAN...INDONESIA...

DUBAI...MALAYSIA WE HAVE NO IDEA WHERE THEY

TAKE THESE THINGS.

ILYAS: IT COULD GO TO ANY CITY IN THE WORLD...

WE DON'T KNOW WHERE.

OUR JOB IS JUST THE PACKING.

WE GET OUR PAY AND THEN WE GO HOME.

NARRATOR: IT'S ALL IN A DAY'S WORK FOR MAZHAR AND ILYAS

BUT THE FAKE DRUGS THEY'RE SHIPPING COULD BE

DOING UNTOLD HARM TO UNTOLD NUMBERS OF PEOPLE

ACROSS THE GLOBE.

NARRATOR: FAKE PHARMA IS NOW THREATENING EVEN

THE LEGITIMATE MEDICAL SUPPLY CHAIN.

NO ONE IS SAFE.

KENDRA DAVIS: YOU'RE TAKING A RISK THAT THIS MIGHT NOT

BE THE MEDICATION FOR YOU...

IT MIGHT BE A MEDICATION THAT IS ACTUALLY IS GONNA

MAKE YOU WORSE OR EVEN KILL YOU.

NARRATOR: IN 2007 KENDRA'S MOTHER KATHERINE NYA...

WAS ADMINISTERED HEPARIN DURING A HEART OPERATION ...

BUT THE HEPARIN DIDN'T SEEM TO HELP.

KATHERINE'S BLOOD DID NOT THIN.

KENDRA DAVIS: I GUESS RIGHT AFTER I LEFT THE ROOM

MY MOTHER'S HEART JUST STOPPED COMPLETELY.

THEY DID AN EMERGENCY OPENING OF HER HEART IN THE

ROOM AND FOUND A CLOT NEXT TO HER HEART...

WHICH DIDN'T YOU KNOW MAKE A LOT OF SENSE BECAUSE

SHE HAD HAD YOU KNOW OVER A 160,000

UNITS OF HEPARIN DURING HER SURGERY.

NARRATOR: DOCTORS MANAGED TO SAVE KATHERINE BUT

THEY NEEDED TO PERFORM A SECOND SURGICAL PROCEDURE.

KENDRA DAVIS: SHE ENDED UP WITH ANOTHER VERY LARGE

DOSE OF HEPARIN FOR THAT PROCEDURE.

IT WAS AT 12,000 UNITS AND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THAT

HER HEART STOPPED AGAIN.

AND AT THIS TIME SHE WAS WITHOUT A HEARTBEAT...

PRESSURE... OXYGEN FOR 40 MINUTES.

NARRATOR: KATHERINE SUFFERED SEVERE BRAIN AND

ORGAN DAMAGE AND REMAINED SERIOUSLY ILL UNTIL SHE

DIED ALMOST THREE YEARS LATER.

THE MANUFACTURER MAINTAINS THAT AN UNDERLYING

MEDICAL CONDITION CAUSED KATHERINE'S DEATH.

KENDRA DISAGREES.

KENDRA DAVIS: THE THINGS THAT HAPPENED TO HER WERE

CONSISTENT WITH A COUNTERFEIT

HEPARIN CONTAMINATION.

NARRATOR: HEPARIN'S ACTIVE INGREDIENT IS MADE

FROM PIG INTESTINE.

THE U.S. MANUFACTURER OUTSOURCED THIS EARLY PHASE

OF PRODUCTION TO A CHINESE SUPPLIER.

BUT THIS TIME THE SUPPLIER PRODUCED A BATCH THAT

CONTAINED SOMETHING DIFFERENT.

THE HEPARIN WAS FOUND TO BE CONTAMINATED WITH A

SYNTHETIC MATERIAL THAT HAD A TOXIC SIDE EFFECT.

KENDRA DAVIS: I WAS FURIOUS.

ESPECIALLY WHEN I FOUND OUT THAT THIS HEPARIN

CAME FROM CHINA.

IF WE WOULD HAVE EVER KNOWN THAT ANY OF THE MEDICATION

CAME FROM CHINA...

ESPECIALLY A LIFESAVING MEDICATION LIKE THAT...

WE WOULD HAVE NEVER ALLOWED IT.

AND THE AVERAGE AMERICAN CITIZEN DOES NOT KNOW THAT

80% OF OUR DRUGS ARE COMING FROM CHINA AND INDIA

WHERE THERE ARE KNOWN COUNTERFEIT MARKETS.

NARRATOR: THE U.S. MANUFACTURER INVOLVED TOOK

RESPONSIBILITY AND TIGHTENED UP ITS SCRUTINY OF

FOREIGN CONTRACTORS.

THE CHINESE SUPPLIER WAS PLACED ON AN FDA WATCH LIST.

BUT FOR KENDRA THESE STEPS AREN'T ENOUGH.

SHE'S CAMPAIGNING FOR GREATER AWARENESS OF

HER MOTHER'S CASE.

KENDRA DAVIS: I'M CONSTANTLY RELIVING THE DEATH AND

THE SUFFERING OF MY MOTHER.

EVEN IF THERE ISN'T EVER JUSTICE...

I NEED TO KNOW THAT I TRIED EVERYTHING THAT

I COULD... TO STAND UP FOR WHAT WAS RIGHT.

NOT ONLY FOR MY MOTHER BUT FOR OTHER INNOCENT PEOPLE.

NARRATOR: IT'S A LONELY BATTLE.

MEANWHILE... ON THE WEST COAST AT LAX...

CUSTOMS OFFICER CHRISTIAN CRAWFORD IS FIGHTING THE WAR

AGAINST FAKE PHARMA ONE PARCEL AT A TIME.

CHRISTIAN CRAWFORD: WE'RE GETTING A LOT OF

PHARMACEUTICALS FROM CHINA RIGHT NOW.

WE'LL SEIZE IT AND THEN HAVE IT DESTROYED.

A LOT OF THEM ARE COUNTERFEIT.

NARRATOR: IN HIS SMALL KITCHEN FAR FROM LA...

PRODUCER PRETTY BOY IS FINISHING OFF A BIG ORDER

FOR AN INTERNATIONAL CLIENT.

PRETTY BOY: WE'RE NOT JUST HERE LOCALLY.

EVERYTHING WE'RE DOING IS GOING TO WAY DIFFERENT PARTS

OF THE EARTH RIGHT NOW.

NARRATOR: AS LONG AS THERE'S A DEMAND...

FRAUDSTERS WILL WORK TO SUPPLY IT.

ILYAS: MY PAY INCREASES AS THE WORK INCREASES.

OUR WISH IS TO HAVE A BIG FACTORY.

NARRATOR: THE SELF APPOINTED ROBIN HOODS WILL SEEK IT OUT.

DOUGAN: PART OF WHAT PUSHES PEOPLE INTO THE

ILLEGAL ACTIVITY IS THE PAIN THAT YOU CAN GO THROUGH

IN THAT AND I'VE SEEN IT FIRSTHAND...

IS ENOUGH TO MAKE YOU RISK EVERYTHING IN ORDER TO

NOT FEEL THAT ANYMORE.

NARRATOR: AND THE AUTHORITIES WILL CONTINUE

TO FIGHT.

SGT. OPFERMAN: THERE'S A GREAT DEAL OF PROFIT TO BE

MADE BUT YOU KNOW IT'S DEFINITELY YOU KNOW A

MULTI-BILLION DOLLAR BLACK MARKET INDUSTRY.

DOUGAN: AT THE SAME TIME...

FOR SOME PEOPLE IT'S JUST ABOUT MAKING MONEY.