Medical Crime Investigation of O-indian
Jacob Matthan
This is an important posting as today I had a call from a Finnish
Crime Investigator. Had I been a party to a medical crime committed by
an O-Indian?
In March of this year, one of our O-Indian friends asked me to collect
a packet from customs. I went to the customs office, armed with a
Power of Attorney and asked for the packet.
On opening the packet the customs officer told me that he could not
release the same as it contained medicines (drugs). I asked what could
be done and he gave me a couple of numbers to contact in Helsinki to
try and get this consignment released.
My calls led nowhere as I was told that, as per the EU law,
importation of any form of medicines, allophathic, homeopathic,
ayurvedic or any other native medicines was not permitted. (Someone
had written in the O-india Group that importation of homeopathic and
ayurvedic drugs is permitted - NOT TRUE.)
The law concerning importation is that a traveller could bring in a
reasonable quantity of prescription medicines for personal use, the
reasonable quantity not exceeding 3 months material if the stay is
longer than that period.
I asked for these drugs to be sent back to India, but I was told that
this was not possible. I was told it would be handled according to the
law. (The material is evidence if a case should be filed!)
Today's call from a Crime Investigator from the Oulu Custom's
Department was to try to locate the importer to get his statement.
I explained that the individual had left Finland and was not likely to
return in the near future. I then explained the exact context of this
incident in that the person had come on a one year residence permit
and had brought the medicines for three months for a severe intestinal
condition. As his stay was for longer, he had contacted his doctor
from one of the most reputed institutions in India and they had sent
him the continuation amount of medicines as otherwise he would have
suffered severe problems.
No one was aware of the law and this was an inadvertent incident.
The Crime Investigator, who was most helpful, told me that he did not
have the power to close the investigation, but now that he had the
complete details, he would advise the hierarchy above him and try to
have this matter closed.
I hope all of you will take note of this incident as you may commit a
crime without even realising it.
In case this matter had not been referred to me, it would not have
been closed and there would be a warrant waiting for the person should
he have ever have to return to Finland!
Of course, I am not scared of such an investigation. But for someone
else it could be a traumatic incident to be served with demand to make
a statement for a Crime Report!
Take care.
Jacob