Antibiotics, medication anti-hypertension, medications for erectile dysfunction and even vaccines against rabies were seized from hundreds of pharmacies and markets, including online pharmacies, in a massive operation coordinated by Interpol.
The international police organization said in a statement that they had “Arrested 87 people in connection with this operation which targeted the organized criminal networks behind pharmaceutical crime in Asia.” To achieve his ends, the world’s policeman has investigated over 500 pharmacies and markets in 13 Asian countries and over 100 illegal online pharmacies. In total, these 9 million fake medicines with a market value of 6.42 million euros represented 2 tons of goods.
Operation Storm VI “demonstrated the sophistication and determination of criminal groups engaged in pharmaceutical crime, creating dangers to public health and the safety of the population”, said Aline Plançon, head of Interpol’s global health and safety unit.
The countries concerned by this vast seizure of counterfeit drugs are Afghanistan, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Pakistan, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam. A total of 87 people in 13 Asian countries were arrested in connection with this attack.
Source: Falsified and illicit medicines worth USD 7 million seized across Asia in INTERPOL-led operation, press release – December 21, 2015
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