A Glengormley man has been fined £300 for selling unlicenced erectile dysfunction tablets on the internet.

Imran Ali, from Sherwood Avenue, pleaded guilty to charges of importing, placing on the market and supplying illegal medicinal products without a licence or marketing authorisation when he appeared at Belfast Magistrates Court yesterday (Wednesday).

In March the United Kingdom Border Agency intercepted 1,600 tablets destined for the 48-year-old’s Glengormley address and during a follow up search by Department of Health’s Medicines Regulatory Group officers a further 4,500 similar tablets were found.

Ali had been sourcing and dealing in the illegal unlicensed erectile dysfunction medicines.

Professor Mike Mawhinney, Head of the Medicines Regulatory Group, said the medicines being supplied by Mr Ali should only be used under the direction of a GP and in accordance with a prescription.

“This type of dangerous business dealing poses a great risk to public health as you simply don’t know what you are taking,” he said.

“These types of products being sold, usually online, have undergone no quality control and there can be no guarantee about their safety”.

He urged the public not to purchase medicines from unregistered websites or unregulated internet sites.

Medicines Regulatory Group Senior Enforcement Officer, Peter Moore said it is vital that the message that unlicensed medicines can be dangerous is made clear.