The MHRA claims that trading in diazepam 10mg is down by 64 per cent as a result of its efforts to stop the illegal diversion of medicines to the black market.

The Agency has analysed bulk orders of medicines commonly diverted for illegal sale between January-May 2017 compared to January-May 2016. The figures show trading is down by:

• Diazepam 64%
• Nitrazepam 24%
• Temazepam 20%
• Zolpidem 14%.

The MHRA announced in January that it was cracking down on the diversion of Prescription-Only Medicines onto the criminal market, after first becoming aware of a significant diversion of benzodiazepines and other hypnotics/anxiolytics in 2016.

The MHRA’s enforcement team is running 17 active investigations, and 44 arrests have been made thus far, for offences such as possession with intent to supply a Controlled Drug, and offences under the Proceeds of Crime Act.