Senate bill aims to curb pharmaceutical theft

WASHINGTON (AP) — Law enforcement officials would have more leeway to pursue and punish criminals who steal prescription pharmaceuticals under a proposal introduced today by Senate lawmakers.

A bill supported by five Democrats would increase the penalties for stealing stolen medical products and give police extra tools, including wiretaps, to track thieves.

The bill accomplishes this by bringing medical theft under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations law, which was originally developed to prosecute organized crime.

“This bill is one front on our war against prescription drug abuse in Ohio," said U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, who co-sponsored the the legislation. "When unintentional drug poisoning surpasses motor vehicle crashes and suicide as the leading cause of injury death in Ohio, the prescription drug abuse epidemic has left too many families and communities are suffering.”

The measure comes amid a rise in the value of pharmaceutical heists, which has increased 350 percent since 2007. Last March, the theft of $75 million worth of Eli Lilly drugs from a Connecticut warehouse drew new attention to the problem. It was the largest crime of its kind on record.

Along with stiffer penalties, the bill would formally criminalize the acts of storing, transporting or changing labels on stolen medical products. Those activities are currently not covered by criminal statutes.

Other bill co-sponsors are U.S. Sens. Jay Rockefeller, D-W.Va., Charles Schumer, D-N.Y., Bill Nelson, D-Fla., and Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn.