The Cybercrime Directorate participated in an International Operation coordinated by Interpol, under the code name «PANGEA», for the detection of websites involved in illegal trafficking and sale of pharmaceutical products.
A case was filed against a website that promoted illegal pharmaceutical preparations dangerous to Public Health
Parallel to the PANGEA operation, a case file was also opened for two websites that sold illegal drugs, without any information about their preparation
There were previous complaints regarding the origin and side effects of their consumption
It is recalled that in early June, a case was filed against the owner of a company based in Ireland, which was distributing an unapproved pharmaceutical preparation
The Cybercrime Directorate of the Hellenic Police compiled procedural case files for three (3) websites that were illegally promoting pharmaceutical preparations dangerous to public health, for which there were also related complaints regarding their origin and the side effects caused by their consumption.
Specifically, the Cybercrime Directorate participated actively during the period 10-16 June 2015 in the international operation «PANGEA» coordinated by Interpol, which concerned the identification of websites where illegal pharmaceutical substances are trafficked and sold.
In the PANGEA operation, 236 police services, customs and health regulatory units from a total of 115 countries participated and 5.907 websites were investigated, of which 2.414 were taken down. Also, from the investigations carried out worldwide, 149.623 packages were inspected and 50.068 packages were seized.
Additionally, 429 house searches were conducted, resulting in 156 arrests and 176 arrest warrants. In total, 20,709,886 pieces of medication were seized, with a total value of US$81,060,037.
Initially, on the Greek side, a case of illegal trafficking and sale, via the Internet, of an unapproved pharmaceutical preparation was investigated (see our relevant Press Release from 08-06-2015). A case file was filed, in regular procedure, for illegal trafficking, sale and sale via the Internet, of a pharmaceutical product, not approved by the National Medicines Organization (EOF), against the owner of the company, based in Ireland.
In addition, the involvement of a website through which pharmaceutical preparations and medicines were illegally distributed and sold online emerged.
The investigation data was brought to the attention of the Athens First Instance Prosecutor's Office, which issued a relevant prosecutorial order. The National Telecommunications and Postal Commission was subsequently informed of the illegal activity of the website in question, which took action to prevent access to its content.
In parallel with the International Operation «PANGEA», the Cybercrime Unit formed a second case file, against two more websites.
This was preceded by a complaint from the Panhellenic Pharmaceutical Association, according to which the websites in question offered the possibility of purchasing illegal medicines, without a prescription, for which no information was disclosed about their origin or the factories where they were manufactured. Furthermore, there were serious doubts about both their authenticity and their safety, thus posing a serious and immediate risk to Public Health.
The above was brought to the attention of the Athens First Instance Prosecutor's Office, which issued a relevant prosecutorial order. In execution of this order, the competent Greek internet service providers were informed of the illegal activity of the above email addresses, who were asked to prevent their subscribers from accessing them (block).
The case files drawn up for all cases will be submitted to the Athens First Instance Prosecutor's Office.
It is recalled that citizens can communicate, anonymously or by name, with the Cybercrime Prosecution Directorate in order to provide information or report illegal or reprehensible acts or activities carried out via the Internet, at the following contact details:
- By phone: 111 88
- By sending an email to: ccu@cybercrimeunit.gov.gr
- Via the application (application) for smart phones (smart phones) with operating system ios – android: CYBERKID
- Via Twitter « SOS Cyber Alert»: @cyberalertGR
