Nine people have been arrested following an operation targeting the alleged illegal sale of prescription and scheduled medicines in Newcastle’s Central Business District (CBD), with authorities uncovering approximately R1 million worth of unregulated medication at a single premises.
The arrests followed a joint operation conducted by the Directorate for Priority Crime Investigation (the Hawks) and the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) on Wednesday, 12 August 2026.
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During the operation, officials targeted 14 commercial premises in the lower Newcastle CBD after receiving intelligence that unregulated medicines were allegedly being distributed through businesses in the area.
Detailing the intervention to Newcastillian News, SAHPRA confirmed that it and the Hawks had received information regarding the illicit trade before verifying the claims.
“After receiving credible information, which was verified, it was found that unregulated medications, from Schedule 1 to Schedule 6 medications, were being sold to smaller shops in the CBD, which were then in turn sold to members of the public,” confirmed the regulatory authority.
According to SAHPRA, none of the businesses or individuals implicated in the operation held the necessary registrations or medical qualifications required to lawfully dispense the pharmaceutical products concerned.
Among the medicines confiscated were painkillers, antibiotics, abortion medication, cortisone and steroid creams, as well as codeine-based cough syrups.
Officials initially investigated 14 businesses across the lower CBD, with the joint operation ultimately resulting in the arrest of nine individuals.
However, one of the most concerning discoveries was made at a single shop, where authorities allegedly found approximately R1 million worth of medication which SAHPRA said belonged to the State.
“In one shop alone, SAHPRA and the Hawks discovered unregulated medication worth approximately R1 million. What is concerning is that these medications all belonged to the State, and it is unclear how State-owned medication landed up in a shop in Newcastle’s lower CBD,” SAHPRA told Newcastillian News, adding that the seized items at the business ranged from Schedule 3 to Schedule 6 substances.
The discovery raises further questions regarding how medication intended for the public healthcare system allegedly entered an unauthorised commercial supply chain.
Nevertheless, SAHPRA further explained that Schedule 3 medicines and above are subject to strict controls and may only be dispensed in accordance with the applicable legal and medical requirements, including valid prescriptions where required.
“Individuals selling these medications out of their shops are placing the public in danger, as they are not trained or knowledgeable about the respective medications. Subsequently, all nine suspects now face charges of contravening sections 14, 22(a) and 22(b) of the Medicines and Related Substances Act 101 of 1965.”
The charges relate to alleged contraventions of legislation governing the registration, possession, supply and sale of medicines and scheduled substances.
Meanwhile, when approached by Newcastillian News for further comment, the Hawks confirmed that all nine suspects made their first appearances before the Newcastle Magistrate’s Court on Friday, 14 August 2026.
The matter has since been postponed until September 2026. According to the Hawks, each of the accused was granted bail of R5 000 and must comply with the conditions attached to their release.
While the criminal investigation continues, representatives from the South African National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (SANCA) in Newcastle warned that the alleged availability of prescription medicines outside regulated medical channels feeds into an existing substance-abuse problem within the community.
“When it comes to misusing over-the-counter medications and prescription medicines, there is a problem in Newcastle, and the problem sits predominantly with Newcastle’s youth,” stated Thabile Nkosi, a social auxiliary worker for SANCA.
Expanding on the concern, Nkosi said SANCA field workers regularly encounter young people misusing prescription medicines, including antidepressants and codeine-based products.
“With the cough mixture, one of the biggest issues in Newcastle is that children can buy it easily at pharmacies or retailers, who often don’t turn people away. These children will then mix the cough syrup with cool drink and can get high at home, and their parents will be none the wiser because there is no evidence lying around that they are doing drugs,” she emphasised.
Princess Hoffman, a social worker and head of services at SANCA, further warned that prescription medication, including anti-anxiety drugs such as Xanax, is also misused by adolescents and adults in Newcastle.
Of particular concern, she said, is the practice of combining different substances in an attempt to intensify their effects.
“For example, a person might use a medication such as Xanax and cough syrup together, with the intention of getting high. The issue here is that while drugs such as whoonga and meth are an issue in Newcastle, prescription medications are easier to get and people do not understand the risks they face when using these substances to get high,” Hoffman said, noting that many young people operate under the misconception that over-the-counter pharmaceuticals carry fewer risks than illicit street drugs.
The concern extends beyond prescription medication used recreationally.
Charles Steyn of Magenta Emergency Medical Services (EMS) said unregulated performance-enhancing substances and other pharmaceutical products are also circulated within the town, with paramedics having responded to medical emergencies involving people who allegedly overdosed after consuming improperly obtained medication.
“When looking at the individuals who sell over-the-counter medication and other prescription medications, it is important to remember that they are not qualified. This means they do not know the correct dosages to be used; they have no idea if the person buying from them could have a potential allergic reaction to the meds, nor do they care about the organ failure that these medications can cause,” stressed Steyn.
Focusing particularly on codeine-based mixtures and performance-enhancing substances reportedly used by some adolescent boys involved in school sport, Steyn warned that misuse can carry potentially serious health consequences, including damage to the kidneys and heart.
“These individuals only care about the money, and do not care the slightest about the impact these medications could have on a child or adult. When it comes to medications, whether Schedule 1 or Schedule 6, it is important to see a qualified and registered medical practitioner, as the long-term effects of these medications are not worth receiving dialysis or potentially overdosing.”
Against this backdrop, the arrests have exposed what authorities allege is an unauthorised pharmaceutical supply chain operating within Newcastle’s CBD.
More significantly, the discovery of approximately R1 million worth of State-owned medication at one of the businesses leaves a critical unanswered question: how did medicines belonging to the State allegedly leave the regulated healthcare supply chain and enter a private shop in Newcastle?
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2 Responses
Well…that’s probably why our local clinic doesn’t have the prescribed medication we need
It’s on the streets
Sold illegally
Corrupt government officials selling the drugs that’s how this business is thriving