LIHUE — Two pharmacies on Kauai are being investigated by federal authorities for allegedly distributing drugs without a prescription.
Drug Enforcement Administration officials seized records and inventory from Westside Pharmacy in Hanapepe and Kalaheo Pharmacy during inspections on Oct. 9 and 10, according to receipts documenting the execution of a federal inspection warrant.
A DEA investigator said in an affidavit the administration received a complaint in August from a former employee of Westside Pharmacy that “indicated that controlled substances may have been dispensed” without a valid prescription.
The complaint specifically named Brian Carter, the owner and operator of Kalaheo Pharmacy and head pharmacist at Westside Pharmacy, the DEA agent’s affidavit said.
Carter’s attorney, Raphael del Castillo, said Monday that his client is assisting the DEA but could not divulge any further details because the investigation is still ongoing.
“There may be a story there at some point,” he said. “But it isn’t the one told in the affidavit.”
According to the affidavit, the former employee’s complaint mentioned only Westside Pharmacy, but the DEA investigator thought it necessary to look into the records of Carter’s Kalaheo business as well, citing reason to believe the same practices may be occurring at both pharmacies.
The inspection warrant granted DEA investigators and special agents broad authority to inspect Kalaheo Pharmacy’s records, allowing them to review and copy reports and documents pertaining to agreements between the pharmacy and any drug manufacturers, distributors, pharmacists or physicians.
The warrant also extended to the inspection and inventory of controlled substances, sales invoices, computer records and any correspondence pertaining to the pharmacy’s outside business relationships.
