A 43-year-old woman who admitted selling illegal prescription drugs from a Lisburn shop has received a £750 fine.
Eduarda Verygiene pleaded guilty to three counts of possession and supply of the fake medicines from her eastern European convenience food store.
Enforcement officers from the Department of Health seized 3,000 tablets from the Tonagh Drive shop last September after it emerged they were of Lithuanian and Russian origin.
The drugs were used for the treatment of infection, digestive disorders and pain relief.
Peter Moore, senior medicines enforcement officer at the Department, said: "Medicines are not everyday consumer goods - and appropriately, strict legal controls apply to their sale and supply. If you buy a medicine from unregulated high street sources like this, you may well be exposing yourself to a product that is unlicensed, fake or could react adversely with any other medication you may take.
"People should only take prescription medicines after an appropriate consultation with their GP or other healthcare professional and source them from a registered pharmacy."
Professor Mike Mawhinney, head of the Department's medical regulatory group, added: "This kind of illegal activity poses a significant risk to public health. We will continue to be vigilant in the regulation of medicines and in maintaining public safety."
