Interpol (International Criminal Police Organization) shut down thousands of fake online marketplaces that posed as pharmacies and sold fake and illegal drugs and medicines.
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This record number of illegal online pharmacies were shut down during Operation Pangea XIV, which targeted online sellers of counterfeit and illegal pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
Law enforcement agencies, customs and health regulators from 92 countries coordinated by Interpol removed “113,020 online links, including websites and online marketplaces that are being closed or taken down.”
During Operation Pangea XIV, officers also checked packages delivered from online stores and found counterfeit and illegal drugs hidden among legal products such as clothing, toys and even food.
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In one case, more than 2,800 nerve pain pills were discovered inside cans of baked beans.
Overall, with the support of the Institute for Pharmaceutical Safety, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime and Europol, the operation led to the seizure of approximately 9 million medical devices and illicit pharmaceutical products, including:
- hypnotic and sedative medications
- erectile dysfunction pills
- medical devices (Covid test kits, masks, syringes, catheters, surgical devices, etc.)
- analgesics / painkillers
- anabolic steroids
- antiseptics and germicides
- anticancer drugs
- vitamins
The danger behind illegal online pharmacies
The U.S. Federal Trade Commission provides consumers with advice on avoiding fraud while searching for health products and services online.
The FBI also highlights the danger behind illegal drug purchases on its “Scam and Safety” website, saying that online drug promotions and unbelievable deals are usually signs that the seller does not have a legitimate pharmacy license.
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Counterfeit medicines are dangerous because, in addition to containing the wrong or inactive ingredients, they could contain the correct active ingredient but in the wrong dosage.
Information source: bleepingcomputer.com
