23/11/2019 08:31:00 AM
Pangea is an international campaign to counter the phenomenon of selling counterfeit and illicit
drugs and health products online. The company has been co-ordinated by INTERPOL and since its
inception in 2008, it has managed to withdraw more than 105 million fake pharmaceuticals and
arrest more than 3,000 people since its launch in 2008. In addition to its repressive role, Pangea
operates as a means of raising public awareness of the risks inherent in the purchase of drugs from
uncontrolled websites.
In the context of Pangea, the combined efforts of the police, customs, regulators and private sector
companies have prevented potentially dangerous drugs from reaching consumers and dismantled
various illegal networks behind such criminal activities.
Since launching in 2008, 153 countries around the world have participated, with the number of
checks reaching 12.9 million packages. As a result of these searches, the seizure of 105 million
fake and illegal pharmaceuticals, the closure of 82,000 illegal websites and the arrest of more than
3,000 people were achieved.
An analysis of Pangea's results over the past decade reveals that at least 11% of the drugs sold
online are fake. Most seizures concern erectile dysfunction drugs, and seizures also include
significant numbers of antidepressants, anabolic, steroids, and drugs used to treat diabetes or cancer.
Since 2015, there has also been a shift in the circulation of illicit medicines. They now include
significant amounts of hypnotic, sedative and anti-inflammatory drugs.
Findings from the various phases of PANGEA indicate that organized crime groups are increasingly
taking complex steps to avoid tracking down their illegal activities. These include the development
of complex sea routes, the concealment of illicit drugs in cargoes with other goods, and the transport
of preparations in smaller quantities to make it more difficult to identify. These changes are partly due
to the success of the business but also to the stricter controls that many countries have introduced.
The sole purpose of organized crime groups that sell illicit drugs online is to make money, regardless
of the health or lives of their unsuspecting clients. In fact, through this illegal trade, the profits they
make are huge.
INTERPOL Organized and Emerging Crimes Unit Director Paul Stanfield said that "by following in
the footsteps of money and the seizure of criminal assets, we can dismantle the criminal networks
involved and safeguard public health." In addition, Mr. Stanfield emphasized INTERPOL's
commitment to provide the necessary research support to law enforcement authorities.
Unauthorized and counterfeit medicines can be dangerous for a variety of reasons. They may contain
the wrong amount of active ingredient or their expiration date has been forged. Some counterfeit
medicines have been found to contain even mercury, male, poison and cement. Also, unapproved
medical products, such as contact lenses and condoms, purchased online can be defective or of poor
quality and pose a risk to the user.
The General Secretariat of INTERPOL recalls the dangers that arise from the purchase and use of
pharmaceuticals online and calls on the public to avoid buying such products if they appear suspicious
(misspellings, lack of physical address or presence of promises). such as "No Risk", "Absolutely Safe",
"Totally Legal"), if the price is suspiciously low and if the payment is made only with
cryptocurrencies.
It also calls on the public, before any such market, to make sure that it is done by authorized or
controlled sources. In the case of prescription drugs, purchases should only be made from authorized
dealers. Finally, INTERPOL urges the public not to buy pharmaceuticals from social networking sites
or mobile applications.
