One year ago, in the largest theft of its kind on record in the U.S., approximately $75 million in prescription medication was allegedly stolen from an Eli Lilly warehouse. Due in part to that crime, a group of six U.S. senators, including Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, has introduced a bill to increase the criminal penalties for the theft of prescription drugs.

According to the senators, theft of prescription medication is on the rise. During 2010, there was approximately $185 million in stolen prescription drugs in the U.S. In addition, the value of pharmaceutical products has risen by 350 percent since 2007, with products being sold on the street or repackaged and resold to medical suppliers, with potentially dangerous consequences when drugs are not properly stored.

The new bill is attempting to bring medical theft under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations (RICO) law, which was created for the purpose of prosecuting organized crime when it was enacted in 1970 as part of the Organized Crime Control Act.

In doing so, the senators allege, law enforcement will now have additional tools such as wiretapping to investigate and prosecute alleged prescription drug thieves.

In addition, the bill aims to increase the penalties for the theft of prescriptions. It would also create criminal causes of action for acts such as storing, transporting or changing labels on stolen drugs. Currently, those acts are not covered under federal criminal statutes.

The senators say that these additional tools and penalties are sorely needed to put what is being called the fastest-growing drug crime issue in the U.S. in check.

Source: Associated Press, "Senate bill aims to combat pharmaceutical theft", 8 March 2011