Filenews 22 July 2022
The trade in illegal pharmaceuticals is a lucrative and lucrative business that brings great monetary benefits and attracts criminal organizations around the world.
In an effort to address this phenomenon, INTERPOL in collaboration with other Organizations, such as EUROPOL, the United Nations, the World Customs Organization, the World Medicines Organization, and others, organized this year for the fifteenth year the Global Operation PANGEA XV that took place between the dates of June 23-30, 2022.
During the operation, in which 94 countries worldwide took part, more than three million illegal preparations were seized, the value of which is estimated at €10 million. In addition, 4,000 advertisements offering illegal preparations for sale were closed. 3,000 packages were checked in inspections carried out at 280 parcel checkpoints, an investigation was launched into 600 cases and 200 investigation warrants were issued.
It is estimated that, as a result of the operation, the actions of at least 36 organised criminal groups were suspended.
The Secretary General of INTERPOL, Mr. Jurgen Stock, said in a speech that the sale of falsified medicines may seem to be a low level of crime, but the consequences can be dangerous even for the lives of the victims.
The operation in Cyprus was carried out with the participation of the Cyprus Police, which was also responsible for the coordination of the whole operation, the Pharmaceutical Services, the Department of Customs and Excise, the Department of Postal Services, the Department of Health Services, the Medical Equipment Unit, the Industry and Technology Service, the State Chemical Laboratory and the Veterinary Services.
During the operation in Cyprus, 462 pharmaceutical preparations in the form of pills, sprays and gels and 123 formulations of food supplements that do not have an import and marketing authorization for sale in the Republic were seized and various packages were checked at the parcel sorting points.
In the context of the operation, 4 websites that offered for online sale, illegal pharmaceutical preparations were identified and the competent authorities were informed about the handling of the issue.
In addition, during the searches carried out, duty-free items of tobacco products, 810 ampoules of nitrogen dioxide (laughing gas) and electronic cigarettes that did not have sufficient marking were found and seized.
Once again, the Competent Authorities call on the public to be particularly careful in the purchase and use of medicines or other preparations offered for sale on the Internet or secured in any way without a prescription and the advice of a competent doctor. It is emphasized that the use of such formulations can bring about serious consequences on the human body with unpredictable consequences.
