MEDIA RELEASE

UNSCRIPTED

In 2014, as a result of an investigation of Foreign Dangerous Drugs in California that linked

a suspect to Arizona, Detectives from the Phoenix Police Business and Economic Stability Squad
(B.E.S.T.) began looking into local businesses called Yerberias. A Yerberia is basically a
shop that sells holistic medicines, spiritual advice, blessings, herbs and folk medicines. This
business practice is not illegal; however, many of these Yerberias have hidden cabinets and
compartments and proprietors will sell foreign dangerous drugs to patrons, primarily from our
Latino community, who know how to ask for them.

Over the next year or so, the Phoenix Police Department B.E.S.T. Squad teamed with the United
States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, the Drug Enforcement Administration, the Food and
Drug Administration, Immigration and Customs Enforcement/Homeland Security Investigations,
the Maricopa County Attorneys Office, Boehringer-Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals, and Inc., Merck
Inc. to conduct an in depth investigation in to Foreign Dangerous Drugs and the Yerberia.

On Wednesday June 15th, 2016 the Phoenix Police Department, with its federal partners, served
23 search warrants that resulted in 26 arrests around the Phoenix Metropolitan area including the
cities of Chandler and Mesa. This was a great collaborative effort focused primarily on the safety
and protection of those who live in our community.

Tom Kubic, former FBI Deputy Assistant Director, who heads up the Pharmaceutical Security
Institute said that, Todays announcement underscores the effectiveness of cooperative law
enforcement efforts in stemming the flow of unsafe medicines into some of our most vulnerable
communities. The callousness of those dealing counterfeit and misbranded medicines is
appalling! The officers involved in this series of investigations are to be commended with our
heartfelt thanks.

The actions taken by the Phoenix Police Department today are a great example of how strong
publicprivate partnerships can make meaningful strides to protect patients, and reinforce the
importance of FDAs Know Your Source program, said J. Aaron Graham, Executive Director
of Brand Safety &Security for Boehringer Ingelheim Pharmaceuticals Inc.

The Phoenix Police Department would like to thank all of the partners for their efforts to keep
our community safe and we hope our citizens will take head to the warnings concerning the
dangers of purchasing pharmaceuticals through means other than licensed pharmacies.