More than 1,900 people suspected of manufacturing or selling fake drugs for complicated illness like diabetes and cancer were detained in a nationwide crackdown by the Chinese police, Ministry of Public Security said in a statement.
Over USD 182 million worth of fake medicine, trademark logos, packages and instruction manuals were seized during the crackdown, the statement said.
On the basis of previous investigations, more than 18,000 police were mobilised on July 25 to strike against gangs involved, in order to crackdown on the industrial chains and circulation channels of fake medicines, the Ministry said.
The seized fake drugs were illegally advertised for the treatment of hypertension, diabetes, skin diseases and other complicated illnesses or cancer, it said.
Such drugs either delay treatment or cause damage to the liver and kidneys, and can cause myocardial infarction or cardiac arrest, state-run news agency Xinhua quoted the statement as saying.
The methods for manufacturing fake drugs has become more "elusive and deceptive" so as to escape police raids, it said.
Rewards from 500 to 50,000 yuan will be handed out to whistle-blowers who report suspected fake-medicine crimes, it said.