A businessman convicted for his role in a multi-million-pound counterfeit Viagra conspiracy, who then fled the country, has returned to the United Kingdom to receive free NHS treatment and state benefits. Zahid Mirza, 65, from Ilford in East London, spent 16 years on the run in Pakistan before coming back as his health declined.
The Counterfeit Medicine Conspiracy
Zahid Mirza was a key figure in what was once Britain's largest ever counterfeit drugs operation. The scheme involved purchasing fake versions of erectile dysfunction medications, Viagra and Cialis, for as little as 25 pence per tablet from illicit factories in China and Pakistan. These were then sold online to unsuspecting customers for up to £20 each.
The counterfeit tablets were sophisticated, featuring forged packaging and patient leaflets that made them nearly indistinguishable from the genuine products. Experts testified that only a trained eye could spot the fakes. While some contained roughly 90% of the active ingredient, others had no effect or caused nausea. The conspiracy spanned several countries, including the UK, USA, the Bahamas, and Mexico.
Mirza skipped bail just days before being found guilty in 2007 on five counts of selling fake medicine and one of selling medicines without a licence. He was subsequently jailed in absentia for two and a half years.
A Return Funded by the Taxpayer
After his health deteriorated in 2020, Mirza returned to Britain in 2023. He was sentenced to an additional three months in prison for absconding but was released the following year. He is now living in a council-funded care home in Ilford and is in receipt of Universal Credit. The NHS is also providing treatment for his multiple, complex health issues, and he is on a waiting list for dialysis—a treatment that costs approximately £34,000 per patient annually.
This support continues despite Mirza's outstanding debt to the state. A confiscation order originally demanded he repay £1.8 million in illicit profits. While £408,000 was retrieved from the sale of his two Ilford homes, with accrued interest, he still owes a staggering £3,243,551.38.
High Court Rejects Appeal
Mirza recently applied to the High Court to set aside the confiscation order, claiming he had no realisable assets left and was too ill to work. However, Mr Justice Soole dismissed his application, describing Mirza as a "most unsatisfactory and unreliable witness." The judge noted his failure to account for other assets, suggesting some were likely hidden.
The case, which was built on evidence from the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA), also saw convictions for Mirza's associates, Gary Haywood from Leicester and student Ashwin Patel from north London.
The situation highlights ongoing concerns about individuals accessing the welfare state while withholding criminal profits. Mirza's return and subsequent claiming of benefits and costly NHS care, all while owing millions from his criminal enterprise, poses significant questions for the justice and health systems.
