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WASHINGTON — The Consumer Healthcare Products Association (CHPA) has teamed up with Alabama officials to launch the state’s new voluntary retail anti-smurfing campaign.
Joining with Alabama Attorney General Luther Strange, Drug Task Force Leader Rob Savage and other leaders, CHPA said Monday that the initiative aims to educate potential "smurfers" — those who buy pseudoephedrine and sell the product to another to manufacture methamphetamine — about the consequences of making an illegal purchase.
According to CHPA, law enforcement recognizes that some criminals approach third parties to buy pseudoephedrine for them, in an attempt to circumvent the law. And even though some "meth cooks" may understand they can go to jail for their illegal behavior, people who purchase these medicines for others for payment may be unaware that their behavior can lead to prison time, the association noted.
The anti-smurfing effort is a public-private partnership that offers all Alabama pharmacies posters and tent cards to place at the retail counter. CHPA said it tested a range of anti-smurfing messages and posters, and the research affirmed that these materials successfully educate potential smurfers about the consequence of illegal purchases.
"CHPA is proud to partner with Attorney General Strange and other Alabama leaders in this important initiative," stated Scott Melville, CHPA president and chief executive officer. "CHPA is committed to helping law enforcement officials and retailers combat the illegal diversion of medicines with pseudoephedrine. While real-time, stop-sale technology helps law enforcement track smurfing behavior and make arrests, it is also important to inform potential smurfers that their unlawful actions have severe consequences."
