‘OPERATION PANGEA VIII’: Fake Slimming Pills, Erectile Dysfunction Tablets, Condoms And Cancer Drugs Seized In £51.6 Million Global Crackdown On Counterfeit Medicines

Fake drugs and unlicensed medicines worth £15.8 million have been seized in the UK as part of a global crackdown on counterfeit products, that saw a total of £51.6 million of goods seized across 115 countries

• Global crackdown organized by INTERPOL saw 156 arrests worldwide
• £51.6 million of fake drugs seized across 115 different countries
• In the UK 6.2 million doses of counterfeit medicines seized worth £15.8m
• Operation saw closure of websites selling falsified and unlicensed drugs 

Fake drugs and unlicensed medication worth £15.8 million have been seized in the UK as part of a global crackdown on counterfeit products. Harmful slimming pills, erectile dysfunction tablets, anaemia medication and narcolepsy remedies are among the products seized, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency today revealed. Unlicensed foreign medicines and fake condoms were also found.

Daily Mail UK reports the seizures are the result of a month-long international crackdown on the illegal internet trade of medical products, which yielded £51.6 million worth of items across 115 countries.  

The ‘Operation Pangea VIII’ initiative, coordinated through INTERPOL, concluded with a week of international raids between June 9 and 16, and resulted in 156 arrests worldwide.

The operation also targeted websites that were offering falsified, counterfeit and unlicensed medicines.

Such sites were closed or suspended, their domain names or payment facilities removed.

In the UK, MHRA enforcement officers, with assistance from local police, raided known addresses in connection with the illegal internet supply of potentially harmful medicines.

It resulted in the domestic seizure of almost 6.2 million doses of falsified, counterfeit and unlicensed medicines, 15,000 of which were medical devices with a total value of £15.8 million. 

The UK operation also resulted in 1,380 websites being closed down, 339 of which were domestic sites.

MHRA Head of Enforcement, Alastair Jeffrey, said: 'A breakdown of the UK seizures highlights the growing trend towards lifestyle medications and products that are unlicensed, falsified or controlled under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971.

'The majority of the products seized in UK originated from India, China, Hong Kong and Singapore.

'MHRA has continued to target YouTube accounts and videos as criminals seek to exploit new channels to profit from the illegal sale of medicines - resulting in the removal of more than 320 videos.

'Internationally, results show that almost 150,000 packages were inspected by regulators and customs officials, resulting in the seizure of over 20.7 million doses of unlicensed and counterfeit medicines worth approximately £51.6 million.'

Alex Lawther, from Border Force’s postal command, added: '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.