8.5 million fake 'Viagra' seized

More than 8.5 million fake and unlicensed "Viagra" tablets with a value of £13m were seized last year, the UK Border Agency has said .

The attempt to flood the British market was thwarted when six million doses were found in freight at Heathrow airport. Another 2.1 million were found in parcels at the international postal hub at Coventry and 250,000 at London's Mount Pleasant sorting office after being ordered online by British customers.

The imitations of the drug were produced mostly in the Far East, while the genuine unlicensed versions were imported from India.

Officials warned the fake drugs may "contain harmful ingredients and were unlikely to have the desired effect".