THREE more men were charged in court on Thursday with peddling illegal sexual enhancement drugs after the authorities cracked down on the trade in February.

All three - Lee Teck Boo, Ong Nguk and Teo See Bong - were accused of selling Power 1 Walnut pills, which have caused at least 20 men to be hospitalised.

One went into a coma and another had a stroke.

The three men are said to have had a total of 64 of the China-made tablets on them. They are among eight men caught so far this year during raids on such peddlers in Desker and Rowell roads.

On Wednesday, four men were jailed between six and eight months for similar offences under the Medicines Act. All except one had with them Power 1 Walnut tablets.

Although labelled to contain only natural herbal ingredients, the pills were found to be adulterated with two western medicinal ingredients - Glibenclamide, a potent anti-diabetic medication that can cause severe and life-threatening symptoms of very low blood sugar, and Sildenafil, an active ingredient in Viagra. Sildenafil is a potent drug that should only be taken under a doctor's supervision.

The pill should not be taken by those with heart problems or those on medication containing organic nitrates.

Of the trio charged on Thursday, Lee, 60, faces the most charges - 22 in all. The unemployed man had to be wheeled into court by his maid.

Ong, also 60, faces 10 charges while Teo, 57, is charged with eight counts.

The two men were represented by Mr James Joseph while Lee had no lawyer.

Their case will go for a pre-trial hearing on April 22. If convicted, they face a fine of up to $5,000 or a jail term of up to two years each.