June 10, 2021

In a global crackdown, more than 100,000 online marketplaces selling illegal drugs were removed and counterfeit medicines worth more than $13 million seized.

While most of the illegal medical devices seized were counterfeit or unauthorized COVID-19 test kits, more than 277 arrests in 92 countries and over $20 million worth of drugs were made between 18 and 25 May.

For Interpol Secretary general Jürgen Stock, the production and sale of illegal medicines put thousands of lives at risk.

He said: “The online sale of illicit medicines continues to pose a threat to public safety, which is why operations such as Pangea remain vital in combating this global health scourge. As the pandemic forced more people to move their lives online, criminals were quick to target these new customers. As crimes continue to evolve amidst the Covid-19 pandemic, the authorities must remain vigilant in dismantling criminal networks involved in the proliferation of illicit pharmaceutical products especially in online platforms.”

For more information, read the original story in the BBC.