29 vials of Xgeva seized at Bogorodica border, bus driver charged

Customs officers at the Bogorodica border crossing discovered 29 vials of the cancer drug Xgeva inside a first-aid kit in a bus entering North Macedonia; the shipment is valued at 336,000 denars and a criminal complaint has been filed against the bus driver, a Kosovo citizen.

"The case was discovered at the state entry point at the Bogorodica border crossing, where during inspection of the bus, a total of 29 vials worth 336,000 denars, 29 small boxes, and 30 adhesive labels packed in a black nylon bag were found," the Customs Administration said.

The seized product is Xgeva 120 mg, whose active ingredient is denosumab. The medicine is used, among other indications, to prevent serious bone complications in patients with certain malignant diseases. Packaging states that the product must be stored at 2 to 8 degrees Celsius.

Regulations and investigation

Import of this medicine is subject to strict controls and requires permits from the competent authorities; its transport must meet cold‑chain and other special standards. A mobile team from the Operational Department carried out the seizure, while the Investigations Department has filed a criminal complaint against the driver for smuggling.

Customs officials have not disclosed where the vials originated, who they were intended for, or whether the driver was detained. It also remains unknown whether the required storage temperature was respected during transport in the bus.

According to the Customs Administration, more than 30,000 pieces of medicines have been seized at border crossings since the start of the year.

Photo: press material from the event