Operation Pangea – shining a light on pharmaceutical crime

Coordinated by INTERPOL, Operation Pangea, is a well-established international effort to disrupt the online sale of counterfeit and illicit health products. Just as importantly, Pangea works to raise awareness of the risks associated with buying medicines from unregulated websites.

Since its launch in 2008, the Operation has removed more than 105 million units (pills, ampoules, sachets, bottles and so on) from circulation and made more than 3,000 arrests.

Coordinated by INTERPOL, Operation Pangea, is a well-established international effort to disrupt the online sale of counterfeit and illicit health products.

In other words, the combined efforts of police, customs, regulatory bodies and private sector companies have prevented potentially dangerous medicines from reaching unsuspecting consumers, and have dismantled a number of illegal networks behind these crimes.

Police, customs, regulatory bodies and private sector companies work together to dismantle the illegal networks behind these crimes.

The scale of the problem

Analysis of the results of Pangea over the past decade reveals that at least 11 per cent of medical products sold online are counterfeit and all regions of the world are affected.

Since its launch in 2008, the Operation has removed more than 105 million units (pills, ampoules, sachets, bottles, etc.) from circulation.

The highest number of seizures under Pangea were of fake erectile dysfunction medicines. Other commonly faked products include anti-depressants, anabolic steroids and medicines used to treat diabetes or cancer.

Since 2015, the types of illicit medicines seized have become more diversified, including quantities of hypnotics, sedatives and anti-inflammatory medication.

Operation Pangea in figures

Emerging trends

Findings from the various phases of Operation Pangea show that organized criminal groups are taking increasingly complex measures to avoid detection, such as developing complicated shipping routes and dispatching medicines in smaller parcels.

These changes are partly in reaction to the success of Pangea operations and the more stringent checks that many countries have introduced.

The highest number of seizures under Pangea were of fake erectile dysfunction medicines. Other commonly faked products include anti-depressants, anabolic steroids and medicines used to treat diabetes or cancer.

Criminals attempt to conceal illicit medicines among other goods, meaning that authorities need to be on the alert when checking a wide range of genuine shipments. For example, authorities have found counterfeit contraceptive pills hidden inside DVD packages, and illicit sleeping pills inside shipments labelled as clothing, bedding and food.

The money trail

Organized criminal groups sell illicit medicines online with the sole aim of making money, with no regard for the health or life of unsuspecting customers, and they make huge profits through this illicit trade.

Severe health risks

Unauthorized and counterfeit medicines can be dangerous for a number of reasons. They may contain the wrong amount of active ingredient (too little, too much, or none at all), or have altered expiration dates.

Organized criminal groups are taking increasingly complex measures to avoid detection, such as developing complicated shipping routes and dispatching medicines in smaller parcels.

Some fake medicines have even been found to contain mercury, arsenic, rat poison or cement.

As well as medicines, unlicensed medical products – for instance, contact lenses or condoms − purchased over the Internet may be low quality, faulty or pose a risk to the user.

Criminals attempt to conceal illicit medicines among other goods. Authorities have found illicit sleeping pills inside shipments labelled as clothing, bedding and food.

Know the warning signs

Take care when buying medicines online. Below are some of the key points to remember.

Be sure to:

• buy your medicines from a regulated source;
• buy prescription medicines from authorized outlets only.

Avoid a product or website if:

• it looks questionable (spelling mistakes, no physical address, or promises such as “no risk”, “perfectly safe”, “totally legal”);
• the price is suspiciously low;
• the payment can be made only in cryptocurrencies. This is a potential sign of illegal activities!

Do not buy medicines on social network pages or mobile devices applications.

Unauthorized and counterfeit medicines pose serious health risks. Always buy from a regulated source.