The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) today announced that it has seized £8.6 million of counterfeit and unlicensed medicines in the UK, including huge hauls of potentially harmful slimming pills and controlled drugs such as diazepam and anabolic steroids. This was part of a week-long international crackdown on the illegal internet trade of medicines that resulted in seizures totalling approximately £18.6 million globally.
The crackdown, coordinated through Interpol – called Operation Pangea VII – was conducted between 11 May and 21 May and resulted in 237 people being arrested worldwide. This operation also targeted 10,603 websites that were illegally selling counterfeit and unlicensed medicines and led to them being closed down or suspended through having their domain name or payment facility removal.
In the United Kingdom, enforcement officers from the MHRA, with assistance from Home Office Border Force and local police, raided addresses in connection with the illegal internet supply of potentially harmful medicines.
This UK activity resulted in the seizure of 3.6 million doses of counterfeit and unlicensed medicines, five arrests and the shutdown of 1,891 websites.
A breakdown of the UK seizures highlights the trend towards lifestyle medications that are unlicensed, adulterated or controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971. The most commonly seized drugs were: erectile dysfunction medicines (1.2 million doses), slimming products (383,000) and powerful and often misused drugs like sleeping pills, tranquilisers and antidepressants (330,996 doses). The majority of packages seized that contained medicines supplied illegally originated from India and China, with 72% and 11% of seizures originating from these countries respectively.
For the first time the MHRA has targeted YouTube accounts and videos as criminals seek to exploit new channels to profit from the illegal sale of medicines. The MHRA has removed 18,671 videos since last year’s operation and has seen an increase in the use of social media as the UK domain tree becomes a more hostile environment for criminals to operate in, due to a concerted effort cracking down on illegal activity on UK based websites.
Internationally, preliminary results show that more than 543,531 packages were inspected by regulators and customs officials resulting in the seizure of over 8,376,726 doses of unlicensed and counterfeit medicines worth approximately £18.6 million.
The MHRA’s Head of Enforcement, Alastair Jeffrey, said: ‘Operation Pangea’ is the global response to internet facilitated medicines crime. During a week of action we have seized £8.6 million worth of counterfeit and unlicensed medicines, shut down 1,891 websites operating illegally and removed nearly 20,000 links to these sites that were supported by social media platforms.
We have conducted raids across the country, making five arrests. The medicines recovered during these raids were being held in appalling conditions, such as a dirty old building with broken windows, with medicines lying on the floor in bin bags.
Criminals involved in the illegal supply of medicines through the internet aren’t interested in your health; they are interested in your money. Whether they get this through selling you a potentially dangerous counterfeit or unlicensed drug or through stealing your bank details. To protect your health, visit your GP, get a correct diagnosis and buy medicines from a legitimate high street or online pharmacy.”
Ria Baxendale, from Border Force’s postal command, said:
“Our involvement in this joint operation demonstrates our commitment to tackling the smuggling of fake and unlicensed medicines. These goods can be dangerous and those who profit from this illegal trade are often involved in other forms of serious organised crime.
“My message to the public is simple – don’t buy anything online unless you’re certain it comes from a legitimate manufacturer.”
If someone suspects their medicine may be counterfeit, contact the MHRA’s designated 24-hour anti-counterfeiting hotline on 020 3080 6701 or counterfeit@mhra.gsi.gov.uk.
- Types of medicines seized include Erectile dysfunction; Anorexiant (slimming medication); Hypnotic and sedative; Analgesic (painkiller); Psycotherapeutic Agents; Dermatological Agents; Herbal products; Hair Loss Agents; Anabolic steroid; Anti-inflammatory/Anti-rheumatic; Anti-depressant; Health Supplmements; Gastrointestinal Agents; Anti-Cancer Agents; Muscle relaxant; Anti-bacterial/Antibiotic; Sex hormones; Anti-hypertension; Drugs to treat addiction; Ophthalmological (eye); Analgesic; Thyroid therapy; Respiratory System Agents Miscellaneous; Anti-smoking; Nutritional products; Diuretic; Growth hormones; Medical Devices Miscellaneous; Cough and cold medication; Anti-diabetic; Cardiovascular Agents; Anti-histamine/Anti-allergy; Vitamins; Hormone Agents; Anti-parasitic; Metabolic Agents Miscellaneous; Anti-convulsant/Anti-epileptic; Cardiac therapy; Anti-psychotic; Anti-gout; Cholesterol medication; Laxative; Anti-malarial; Anesthetic; Antiseptic and germicide; Digestive enzyme; Beta blocking; Anti-fungal; Anti-alzheimer; Antidiarrheal; Nervous System Agents; Anti-asthmatic; Immunosuppressive; Anti-viral (e.g. HIV); Blood Agents Miscellaneous; Musculo-Skeletal Agents Miscellaneous; Vasodilator.