Major clampdown against online medicines revealed

on 04/10/2012 13:35:41

More than 120,000 counterfeit and illegal tablets have been seized in Ireland as part of the largest ever international clampdown on the sale of online medicines.

Gardaí, Customs officers and the Irish Medicines Board made the seizures during a week of action around the world.

Dozens of countries took part in this Interpol co-ordinated initiative, named Operation Pangea 5, which took place last week.

A total of 79 people were arrested worldwide and around 18,000 illegal online pharmacy websites were shut down.

More than 120,000 tablets and capsules with an estimated value of €375,000 were detained in Ireland and four people were arrested.

The counterfeit tablets were mainly for weight loss and erectile dysfunction as well as mood stabilisers.

Four websites in Ireland were brought into compliance with the removal of certain advertisements. Two other websites have had their registrations withdrawn.

Commenting on the operation, John Lynch of the IMB warned people not to buy medicines online, because of their potentially fatal health risks and also because many of the websites are run by criminals.