ICE Announces Results of Global Mail and Website Scan of Illicit Pharmaceuticals
Immigration and Customs Enforcement's IPR Center participated in the third annual worldwide scan of international mail and websites, dubbed "Operation Pangea III", targeting illicit pharmaceuticals sold on the Web. More than 40 countries took part in this week-long targeting of online sales of counterfeit and illegal medicines. The global operation was carried out between October 5 and 12, 2010.
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"Operation Pangea III" Coordinated by WCO, INTERPOL, Etc.
Operation Pangea III, the largest Internet-based action of its kind, was coordinated by INTERPOL, the World Customs Organization (WCO), Permanent Forum of International Pharmaceutical crime (PFIPC), Heads of Medicines Agencies Working Group of Enforcement Officers (HMA WGEO), the pharmaceutical industry and online payment systems providers in support of International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT).
Almost 700 Websites Engaging in Illegal Activity, More Than 10,000 Parcels Seized
With 31 countries reporting their results to date, Internet monitoring revealed 694 websites engaged in illegal activity, including offering controlled or prescription-only drugs, 290 websites have now been taken down. In addition, more than 267,855 packages were inspected by regulators and customs, 10,916 packages were seized as containing counterfeits and more than 1,014,043 illicit and counterfeit pills - including antidepressants, antibiotics, steroids, arthritis medicine, lifestyle drugs and diet pills - were confiscated.
Seized pharmaceuticals are estimated to be worth $2,598,163. During the operation, 76 individuals were arrested and are under investigation for a range of offenses, including illegally selling and supplying unlicensed or prescription-only medicines. Some 98 search warrants were executed.
"Operations like this highlight why international partnerships are such an essential weapon in the fight against trafficking of counterfeit pharmaceuticals," said Director John Morton of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), which leads the IPR Center in Arlington, Va. "People who purchase drugs should never have to be put at risk because the product is fake, unsafe or untested."
List of Participating Countries
Among the countries participating this year, in addition to the U.S., were:
Angola, Australia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium , Bolivia, Brazil, Canada, Colombia, Croatia, Cuba, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Hong Kong, China, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Japan, Jordan, Malta, Mexico, Netherlands, New Zealand, Northern Ireland, Norway, Peru, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Slovak Republic, South Africa, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Thailand, the United Kingdom and Uruguay. Investigations are continuing, with the final results from Operation Pangea III to be released at the conclusion.