Bringing medicine home from holiday resorts: when it can lead to criminal charges
More travelers returning from destinations like Turkey and Egypt are bringing back cheaper medicines, but importing certain drugs across Latvia's border can be a criminal offense. Here is what travelers should know before packing their suitcase.
Trips to popular holiday destinations such as Turkey and Egypt are increasingly used not only for beach vacations but also as a chance to buy medicine at lower prices. This so-called pharmacy tourism is becoming more common, as many Latvian residents find prescription and over-the-counter medicines at home expensive.
Not all medicines can be safely transported
While many travelers do return with suitcases full of medication, not all drugs can be freely carried across the state border. Bringing certain medicines into Latvia without proper permission or declaration can be treated as a criminal offense, potentially resulting in serious consequences, including imprisonment.
Why the risk exists
The issue lies in the fact that some substances, which are freely available or obtainable with a simplified prescription in other countries, are classified as controlled or strictly regulated substances in Latvia. This means that even if a medicine was legally purchased abroad, bringing it into Latvia may violate local law.
Travelers planning a holiday abroad who wish to take advantage of cheaper medicine prices are advised to check in advance which rules apply to importing a specific product into Latvia, in order to avoid unexpected legal trouble upon returning home.
