News Americas, CONCORD, N.H., Weds. July 27, 2011: A New Hampshire-based, Brazil-born woman has gotten into hot water for illegally importing “Brazilian diet pills.”
Elisane Garcia, 32, formerly of Hooksett, N.H., was sentenced to approximately 10 months or time served and two years of supervised release for illegally importing the pills into the U.S.
Investigators intercepted thousands of pills, known as “Brazilian diet pills,” which contained fluoxetine and chlordiazepoxide, the same active ingredients as Prozac and Librium, as well as fenproporex, a drug not approved for marketing in the U.S.
The pills were intended for delivery to Garcia from Brazilian suppliers that allegedly received wire transfers from her totaling nearly $45,000. The Internal Revenue Service seized and forfeited approximately $35,000 from Garcia’s bank accounts.
Garcia previously pleaded guilty to multiple charges including smuggling goods into the U.S., introduction into interstate commerce of misbranded drugs, possession of controlled substances with the intent to distribute, and money laundering.
She has been detained since her arrest and will be deported to Brazil after completion of her sentence.
