Interpol has arrested 72 people for selling millions of dollars’ worth of counterfeit drugs in a global dragnet across 89 countries during Operation Pangea. The international law enforcement agency said they seized $7 million worth of drugs, more than closed 1,300 websites, and initiated 325 new investigations between 3-10 October.
Since 2008, Interpol has conducted an annual dragnet called Operation Pangea, where the agency has coordinated raids across a wide array of countries. In the latest operation, the organization again found that erectile dysfunction drugs accounted for the largest share of counterfeit drugs at 22%. Anti-anxiety drugs and stimulants accounted for 19%, and sex hormones and gastrointestinal drugs accounted for 12%.
“Counterfeit medicines and the misuse of regulated medication is a significant threat to public safety around the world,” said Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock. “Operation Pangea XVI removed a large amount of illegal and potentially life-threatening products off the streets and dismantled criminal networks trafficking such goods.”
