Feds investigating CVS over alleged missing drugs in California

Federal officials are investigating CVS over tens of thousands of prescription pain killers that they say have gone missing from four of the company’s California pharmacies.

Search warrant affidavits reported by the Los Angeles Times on Monday allege roughly 37,000 hydrocodone tablets at CVS pharmacies in Turlock, Fairfield, Modesto and Dixon are unaccounted for.

Hydrocodone – found in such drugs as Vicodin – is one of most widely-abused prescription drugs in the U.S.

Lauren Horwood, a spokeswoman for the U.S. attorney’s office in Sacramento, told the Times CVS is facing more than 2,900 possible violations of the federal Controlled Substances Act. She said the violations would carry a maximum fine of $29 million.

CVS spokesman Michael DeAngelis said the company regularly tells its pharmacists to maintain certain records and paperwork.