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UK seizes more than £2 million of fake medicines as part of international crackdown

A crackdown on fake medicines and medical devices by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has netted a haul of more than a million doses worth in excess of £2 million.

The seizures were part of Interpol’s globally coordinated Operation Pangea initiative which involved 116 countries. Worldwide, Operation Pangea led to 859 arrests and yielded items worth in the region of £10.9 million.

Between October 9 and 17, the MHRA and UK partners raided 2 properties in the north of England and uncovered substantial quantities of medicines including diazepam, modafinil and dermal fillers, which were intended to be illegally sold online.

The UK authorities also targeted airports and mail delivery centres, uncovering numerous packages containing illegal consignments of medicines and medical devices including many hidden within other innocent items such as video games and clothing.

The team also targeted websites on the open and dark web that offered falsified and unlicensed medical products. The action led to 123 websites being shut down and 535 online adverts being removed.

The types of medicines seized included analgesics, antidepressants, hypnotics and steroids as well as treatments for epilepsy, asthma, acne, eczema, cancer, hypercholesterolaemia and diabetes.

Commenting on the operation, MHRA Head of Enforcement, Alastair Jeffrey, said that although millions of medicines and devices have been seized, the haul “is just the tip of the iceberg”. He said the MHRA will continue to work with international partners to crack down on the illegal sale and supply of falsified and unlicensed medical products.


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