Internet drug pirates come up before the beak

The people, from Georgia, North Carolina, South Dakota and the Central American nation of Belize, were flogging "clones" of the drugs online under the company name Hi-Tech.

While they were making about $19 million on the deal, the drugs themselves had no medicinal value at all, prosecutors claimed.

Prosecutors showed the court pictures of the operations "drug lab" in Belize. The pills were stored in large rubbish bins marked with "Viagra" and "Lipitor." The machines were covered in dust and dirt.

The pills were marketed through an online spam operation which said the drugs came from Canada and were therefore cheaper.

Those who thought they were getting legitimate and safe prescription drugs over the Internet from Canada at cheaper prices would be a little spooked if they knew it came from a dodgy, dirty, lab in Belize, US Attorney David Nahmias told the court.

Attorney Tim Fulmer, representing Hi-Tech, said everyone would be pleading not-guilty and would be fighting the allegations.

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