State targets three Tampa area clinics in pill roundup

More than 100,000 narcotic pills were seized or voluntarily surrendered in clinics throughout the state during a regulatory check conducted Tuesday by state agencies.

In the Tampa Bay region, 4,698 narcotic pills were surrendered or returned to the distributor, the state reported Wednesday. State agents targeted three clinics in the Tampa Bay region, said Keith Kameg, a spokesman for the Florida Department of Law Enforcement.

The names and locations of the clinics weren't released Wednesday because the investigation continues, Kameg said. No one was arrested in any location because this was an administrative check, he said.

Overall, there were 105,000 pills that were seized. The state Department of Health and regional Drug Enforcement Strike Forces, which is headed by FDLE, visited 24 locations throughout the state.

The Orlando operation seized 52,322 pills at three locations. The South Florida operation seized 48,406 pills at 14 locations, and the Fort Myers operation seized 153 pills at three locations. Pills were also seized at one location in Pensacola.

This was the first Department of Health's statewide compliance check of clinics since the bill went into effect on July 1. The department was assisted by FDLE and the state Attorney General's Office.

"One of the most effective ways to stop prescription drug abuse is to cut it off at the source," said Attorney General Pam Bondi in a statement released from her office and Gov. Rick Scott's office.

This spring state lawmakers passed a comprehensive "pill mill" law providing penalties for doctors who overprescribe painkillers, tightening rules for operating pharmacies and including a prescription-drug monitoring database.

On Wednesday, however, the state Surgeon General temporarily suspended the part of the law that requires doctors to use new counterfeit-proof prescription pads because many doctors have not been able to get them and pharmacies have refused to fill otherwise legitimate prescriptions.

Information from the Associated Press was included in this report.