The police are advising members of the public to refrain from purchasing pharmaceutical drugs from illegal vendors.The warning follows a raid by the St. Andrew South Police on an illegal pharmacy in Kingston 11 on Wednesday, in which three persons were arrested.The police say it is a major risk when medicines are purchased from what they dub sidewalk drug stores, off the internet or from other unregistered persons.They note that it presents the possibility of buying and taking medicines of compromised quality.The police say fake drugs are not made by the authorised manufacturer and may contain less than the claimed quantity of active ingredient or no active ingredient at all.They say some have expired and have a different label placed over the previous one.The police note that many persons have lost their lives as a result of taking counterfeit drugs and as such consumers are being advised to always access drugs from registered pharmacists and to inspect the packaging of their medications.Consumers should also contact their doctor, if they have any unusual reactions to a medication.editorial@gleanerjm.com