Korea Linked To Pill Scam

Asian purchases will account for 63 percent of the purchases of ultrapure water products in 2012. This is the latest forecast in Ultrapure Water World Markets published by the McIlvaine Company. (www.mcilvainecompany.com)

Ultrapure water is defined by end use. It is often clarified even to remove negatively charged ions. While it is ideal for rinsing chips or creating steam, it generally would be a toxic brew if consumed by humans. However, a version called water for injection (WFI) is used by the pharmaceutical industry in the drugs which are injected into the human body.

An ultrapure water system requires removal of the smallest particles withreverse osmosis. A system typically includes ion-exchange or the increasingly popular electrodeionization. Special pumps and piping are necessary to prevent contamination.

Electronics and power are the two big industry segments. Asia dominates thesemiconductor, flat panel display, memory storage and photovoltaic manufacturing industries. Asia is the only continent with a big new coal-fired boiler generation program.

The semiconductor market continues to replace obsolete facilities with new ones. The related photovoltaic industry with substantial needs for ultrapure water is growing at double-digit rates.

North American based companies account for 53 percent of the semiconductor ultrapure water purchased. However, the end use locations are international. Japan and South...

Thailand is seeking help from China and South Korea to support its efforts to crack down on the smuggling of pseudoephedrine-based cold pills.

The move came after the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) obtained information that a Thai company had struck a deal to buy 10 billion pseudoephedrine-based cold tablets from a Chinese firm.

Previously, the DSI obtained information that the firm also signed a deal to buy 850 million tablets, or 40 tonnes of the medicine, from South Korea.

The DSI found that 87 million cold tablets were transported into Thailand from South Korea by plane on nine occasions since 2010.

They had false air cargo manifests to avoid attracting attention from the authorities.

The DSI suspected the medicines were smuggled in from South Korea.

The DSI is investigating two companies suspected of being involved in the smuggling of the pills from overseas.

The companies are UTAC Thai Co Ltd, a supplier of integrated circuits, and TVR Group Co Ltd, a car dealer and vehicle hire firm.

Some information relating to the drug purchases was uncovered at the companies during recent searches of their premises but the firms denied any involvement.

Mr Tarit said yesterday DSI officials also discovered a contract to buy 10 billion pseudoephedrine-based cold tablets from China during the search at UTAC Thai Co Ltd.

Under the contrac...

Thailand is seeking help from China and South Korea to support its efforts to crack down on the smuggling of pseudoephedrine-based cold pills.

The move came after the Department of Special Investigation (DSI) obtained information that a Thai company had struck a deal to buy 10 billion pseudoephedrine-based cold tablets from a Chinese firm.

Previously, the DSI obtained information that the firm also signed a deal to buy 850 million tablets, or 40 tonnes of the medicine, from South Korea.

The DSI found that 87 million cold tablets were transported into Thailand from South Korea by plane on nine occasions since 2010.

They had false air cargo manifests to avoid attracting attention from the authorities.

The DSI suspected the medicines were smuggled in from South Korea.

The DSI is investigating two companies suspected of being involved in the smuggling of the pills from overseas.

The companies are UTAC Thai Co Ltd, a supplier of integrated circuits, and TVR Group Co Ltd, a car dealer and vehicle hire firm.

Some information relating to the drug purchases was uncovered at the companies during recent searches of their premises but the firms denied any involvement.

Mr Tarit said yesterday DSI officials also discovered a contract to buy 10 billion pseudoephedrine-based cold tablets from China during the search at UTAC Thai Co Ltd.

Under the contract, the fir...