SANFORD, Fla. – The U.S. Drug Enforcement Agency plans to hold a news conference Monday after it raided two CVS pharmacies in Sanford and seized drugs shipped from a Lakeland company.
The pharmacies, which were raided Saturday, are located on Orlando Drive and West First Street.
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Oxycodone and hydrocodone, which the DEA tried to suspend Lakeland-based Cardinal Health from distributing, were seized.
On Friday, the company was granted a temporary restraining order against the DEA's actions, allowing them to resume shipments of controlled substances to hospitals and pharmacies in the area.
CVS released a statement late Saturday:
"We are disappointed that the DEA has taken an administrative action to prohibit two CVS/pharmacy stores in Florida from dispensing controlled substances. CVS/pharmacy is unwavering in its compliance with and support of the measures taken by federal and state law enforcement officials to prevent drug abuse and keep controlled substances out of the wrong hands.
Last Fall, with the knowledge of the DEA, we informed a small number of Florida physicians that CVS/pharmacy will no longer fill the prescriptions they write for Schedule II narcotics. As reported by Cardinal Health, the drug wholesaler, distributions of oxycodone to the two Florida stores have decreased by approximately 80 percent in the last three months compared to the prior three months -- we believe in large part due to our action.
We are cooperating with the DEA in regard to the administrative action. Meanwhile, we remain committed to ensuring that all our customers -- including customers of the two pharmacies -- get the medications they need, including controlled substances."