Police look for dodgy diabetes drug dealer

By Tom Qian  |   2009-2-5  |     ONLINE EDITION

POLICE are looking for the man who allegedly sold a counterfeit diabetes drug that caused two deaths and hospitalized nine others last month in the Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.

The Ministry of Public Security has issued a B-level wanted notice for Li Dong, from Chaoyang City in the north-eastern Liaoning Province.

A reward of 10,000 yuan (US$1,462) has been offered to people who provide information that leads to the capture and conviction of the suspect.

The counterfeit drug, carrying the brand name Tang Zhi Ning Jiao Nang, was confirmed to contain the chemical glibenclamide, which is used to help lower blood sugar, but it contained six times the usual dose.

Kashi authorities, in the western part of Xinjiang, reported that two people died on January 17 and 19 after taking the drugs. Four others, in stable condition, are receiving treatment in a Kashi hospital.

Police had seized 9,391 bottles of the drug in Xinjiang as of Sunday, 2,663 from customers.

Authorities said on Monday that four suspects had been detained in Xinjiang for selling the deadly drug.