German police say they’re investigating a Manx link to unapproved drugs being sold in their country.

Prosecutors in Mannheim say 66 premises have been searched in Switzerland and Germany over cancer treatments which haven’t yet been permitted for use.

They claim the drugs, known as cytostatics, are distributed by companies here in the Island and in Denmark.

Two wholesalers and 100 pharmacists could end up facing fraud and drug charges.

Jason Roberts reports (audio file attached):

None of the suspects or companies have yet been named, but the searches have so far centred on several German states and the Swiss canton of Basel.

The drugs involved are much cheaper than their German equivalents but pharmacists are suspected of selling the imported treatments at the higher German price.

The prosecution office in Mannheim says it estimates the illegal drugs have cost health insurers several million euros.

Some of the drugs may also have been forged, it said.