Pharmaceutical crime

A major threat to public health

We are seeing a significant increase in the manufacture, trade and distribution of counterfeit, stolen and illicit medicines and medical devices. Patients across the world put their health, even life, at risk by unknowingly consuming fake drugs or genuine drugs that have been doctored, badly stored or that have expired.

Illicit drugs can contain the wrong dose of active ingredient, or none at all, or a different ingredient. They are associated with a number of  dangers and, at worst, can result in heart attack, coma or death.

The fight against counterfeit medicines is crucial in order to ensure the quality of products in circulation and to protect public health on a global scale.

The increasing prevalence of counterfeit and illicit goods has been compounded by the rise in Internet trade, where they can be bought easily, cheaply and without a prescription. It is impossible to quantify the extent of the problem, but in some areas of Asia, Africa and Latin America counterfeit medical goods can form up to 30% of the market.

The problem of organized crime

Organized criminal networks are attracted by the huge profits to be made through pharmaceutical crime. They operate across national borders in activities that include the import, export, manufacture and distribution of counterfeit and illicit medicines. Coordinated and cross-sector action on an international level is therefore vital in order to identify, investigate and prosecute the criminals behind these crimes.

INTERPOL's response

At INTERPOL, we are tackling this major problem in three main ways:

• Coordinating  operations in the field to disrupt transnational criminal networks;
• Delivering training in order to build the  skills and knowledge of all those agencies involved in the fight against pharmaceutical crime;
• Building  partnerships across a variety of sectors.

If you would like to get involved with our work, please  contact us.

News and Media releases

Training course develops expertise in investigating pharmaceutical crime

07 October 2011

Operation Cobra in Western Africa combats pharmaceutical crime with INTERPOL support

29 September 2011

Global operation strikes at online supply of illegal and counterfeit medicines worldwide

09 June 2011

Collaboration between INTERPOL and Singapore’s health authority heralds milestone in fight against counterfeit medical products