File 769 arrests made
Authorities in 90 nations have seized over 50 million doses of illicit prescribed drugs valued at $65 million in a serious world operation concentrating on counterfeit and unapproved medicines.
The six-month crackdown, coordinated by Interpol beneath Operation Pangea XVII, led to the arrest of 769 people and the dismantling of 123 organised crime teams.
The 17th version of the annual operation, which ran from December 2024 to Could 2025, recorded the very best seizure and arrest totals within the initiative’s historical past.
The dimensions of illicit pharmaceutical exercise uncovered has raised renewed considerations amongst worldwide well being and safety companies in regards to the risks posed by unsafe medical merchandise.
A number of worldwide companions, together with Europol, the World Well being Group, the United Nations Workplace on Medication and Crime, and customs and postal organisations supported the operation.
In keeping with Interpol, many of the seized prescribed drugs lacked regulatory approval and contained substances that could be substandard, falsified, or mislabelled.
Psychostimulants and medicines used to deal with anxiousness and Parkinson’s illness have been probably the most generally confiscated objects. Erectile dysfunction medicines ranked second, adopted by anabolic steroids, anti-diabetic medicine, natural dietary supplements, and dermatological brokers.
1,700 investigations
In whole, authorities in 90 nations launched over 1,700 investigations and executed practically 850 search warrants.
Australia reported the biggest quantity of seizures, together with 5.2 million models of unauthorised therapeutics. The bulk included modafinil and armodafinil, medicine usually used to advertise wakefulness and improve cognitive efficiency.
In an announcement, Professor Tony Lawler, head of Australia’s Therapeutic Items Administration, stated the seizures disrupted the provision of harmful substances and prevented earnings from reaching unlawful networks. He added that assessments of over 9,500 intercepted imports confirmed many have been substandard or falsified.
Legislation enforcement companies in Canada, Eire, Malaysia, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the UK, and the USA additionally reported the seizure of great portions of counterfeit prescribed drugs.
In Africa, Burkina Faso authorities found 816,000 tablets hidden in autos, largely analgesics and anti inflammatory medicine. In Mexico, over 47,000 tablets of sedatives have been intercepted at a Tijuana courier facility. In Portugal, officers uncovered anabolic steroids smuggled into eight prisons, revealing the infiltration of contraband medicines into correctional methods.
Rising misuse
The Interpol operation has highlighted the rising misuse of medical medicine for non-medical functions. Investigators famous a pointy enhance within the circulation of anti-diabetic medicines, notably semaglutide, which is used off-label for weight reduction.
Authorities throughout the Asia-Pacific, Europe, and North America intercepted massive portions of those substances as a part of the operation. A single pen of semaglutide can promote for a number of hundred {dollars} on black markets, pushed by on-line promotion and demand for fast-acting weight management options.
The WHO and nationwide well being our bodies have beforehand issued warnings in regards to the dangers posed by unregulated variations of GLP-1 agonist medicine like semaglutide. The usage of these injectable medicines with out medical oversight can lead to critical well being issues.
Key pattern
One other key pattern recognized in the course of the operation was the rising demand for peptide-based dietary supplements. Merchandise comparable to BPC-157, ipamorelin and melanotan are being marketed for beauty and muscle-enhancing results, notably in wealthier markets. These peptides aren’t accredited for human use in most jurisdictions because of restricted security knowledge and inadequate scientific trials.
The recognition of those substances, usually marketed via social media and unregulated on-line distributors, is making a worthwhile avenue for prison teams. Seizures of peptide dietary supplements have been beforehand uncommon however have elevated considerably throughout this 12 months’s operation.
Digital platforms
Digital platforms stay a serious distribution channel for counterfeit medicine. Interpol said that round 13,000 web sites, social media pages, bots, and channels linked to unlawful pharmaceutical gross sales have been taken down in the course of the operation. Malaysia eliminated the very best variety of listings, adopted by Russia, Eire, Singapore and Iran. Collectively, these 5 nations have been liable for 96% of the worldwide on-line removals.
Within the Center East, Iran’s involvement in on-line content material removals highlights the area’s participation in efforts to counter pharmaceutical crime. Whereas no particular seizures have been reported in Gulf nations, regional well being officers have beforehand warned in regards to the dangers posed by counterfeit medicines, particularly as on-line pharmaceutical demand grows throughout the GCC.
Operation Pangea XVII marks a departure from earlier editions by extending enforcement motion over six months as an alternative of the standard one-week timeframe. Interpol said that the longer period allowed for a extra sustained disruption of prison networks working throughout borders.
Well being authorities have harassed the significance of buying medicines via authorised channels and consulting medical professionals earlier than utilizing any drug, particularly these with weight-loss or aesthetic claims.
Regulatory our bodies within the Center East proceed to observe on-line platforms for unauthorised pharmaceutical exercise and have referred to as for regional cooperation to fight the unfold of pretend medicines.
Authorities say investigations into the networks recognized throughout Operation Pangea XVII stay ongoing, with additional arrests and seizures anticipated within the coming months.
Operation Pangea XVII nations:
Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Belarus, Benin, Bolivia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Chile, China, Colombia, Comoros, Congo, Costa Rica, Curacao, Cyprus, Czech Rep., Democratic Rep. of Congo, Denmark, Dominican Rep., Ecuador, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Greece, Guyana, Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Iran, Iraq, Eire, Jamaica, Kuwait, Laos, Latvia, Lebanon, Madagascar, Malaysia, Maldives, Mexico, Morocco, Mozambique, Myanmar, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Eire (United Kingdom), Niger, Nigeria, Norway, Pakistan, Palestine, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Rep San Marino, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, Senegal, Serbia, South Africa, Singapore, Slovakia, Spain, Sri Lanka, St Lucia, Sweden, Thailand, Togo, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom, United States of America, Uruguay, Venezuela and Zimbabwe.
Hero picture: Illicit prescribed drugs seized in Malaysia as a part of Operation Pangea XVII. Credit score: CAN/Interpol