Lyon, France: A global operation
spanning 100 countries aimed at disrupting the organised crime networks behind
the illicit online sale of medicines has resulted in some 80 arrests and the
worldwide seizure of 3.75 million units of potentially life-threatening
medicines worth USD 10.5 million.
Operation Pangea V,
which involved police, customs and national regulatory authorities, is the
largest Internet-based action of its kind, targeting the international black
market of fake and illicit medicines, and raising public awareness of the
significant health risks associated with buying medicines online.
Coordinated by
INTERPOL, the World Customs Organization, the Permanent Forum of
International Pharmaceutical Crime, the Heads of Medicines Agencies Working
Group of Enforcement Officers, Pharmaceutical Security Institute and
Europol, for the first time, Operation Pangea was also supported by the Center
for Safe Internet Pharmacies (CSIP) which brings together 12 of the world’s
leading Internet and e-commerce companies.
Support by companies
including Legitscript, Visa, Mastercard and PayPal resulted in more than 18,000
websites linked to illicit online pharmacies being identified and shut down,
the suspension of payment facilities of online rogue pharmacies, and the
disruption of a massive number of spam emails and social networking messages.
“When someone is sick,
can't afford to purchase expensive medicine or is just trying to save money,
they are more likely to take a chance and buy medicines online, making
themselves vulnerable to purchasing fake, illicit or spurious medical products
and thus harming themselves,” said INTERPOL Secretary General Ronald K. Noble.
“Organized,
sophisticated criminals and rogue pharmacies are unfortunately using the
Internet to defraud innocent consumers, to place them in harm’s way, to steal
their identities and to engage in credit card fraud.
“It is thanks to the
coordinated efforts of all agencies involved, police, customs, health
regulatory authorities and the private sector, that we have seen the most
significant results since Pangea I was first launched five years ago. This is a
major boost in protecting the health and safety of the public, and tackling the
organized networks behind this crime,” said the INTERPOL Chief.
A dedicated operations
room was established at the INTERPOL General Secretariat headquarters in Lyon,
throughout Pangea V which ran from September 25 to October 2, providing
participating countries and organizations with a central information exchange
point for updates on interventions and seizures. In addition to raids at
addresses linked to the illegal internet supply of medicines, some 133,000
packages were inspected by regulators and customs authorities around the world
with around 6,700 being confiscated.
“As the Internet
becomes increasingly accessible around the world, so the number of potential
victims increases, which is why international multi-sector actions such as
Operation Pangea are vital,” said Aline Plançon, head of INTERPOL’s Medical
Products Counterfeiting and Pharmaceutical Crime unit.
“Taking direct action
against those behind illegal Internet pharmacies is just part of the solution,
and it is equally important for the public to open their eyes to the
significant risks they take when purchasing medicines on illicit online
pharmacies,” added Ms Plançon.
Among the counterfeit
and illicit medicines were anti-cancer medication, antibiotics, erectile
dysfunction pills as well as slimming and food supplements.
To date, 79
individuals have been arrested or are under investigation for a range of
offences including operating a clandestine laboratory producing counterfeit
medicines, membership of a criminal group selling illicit medicine online
and operating websites selling illicit medicines. Information relating to
organized crime networks gathered during the operation will be reviewed and
analysed to identify additional links around the world.
Investigations are
continuing, with the final results from Operation Pangea V to be released upon
their conclusion. For additional information on national activities, please
contact the enforcement agencies and regulatory bodies of the countries
involved.