French customs have just intercepted more than 900,000 illicit health products. This seizure is the result of a vast international operation.
France participated, from May 30 to June 7, in an international operation called PANGEA IX aimed at combating the illicit sale of medicines on the Internet. About 100 countries were involved in the maneuver, which was coordinated by Interpol and the World Customs Organization. This operation resulted in a large number of arrests and reports of offenses around the world. For a week, 961,192 illicit health products and 1,422 kg of bulk health products were seized across France.
Medicines diverted from their use
In France, the operation was carried out by the police, gendarmerie and customs services with the assistance of the drug industries. Before launching the operation, a preparatory phase was carried out to monitor the various illegal websites.
It is mainly illicit drugs, or diverted from their use for use as narcotics that have been found, but medical devices such as condoms, pregnancy tests or strips have also been intercepted. According to the customs services, the quantity seized was close to that of last year during the same operation, but the variety of products found is this time much greater.
24 judicial inquiries opened
Three quarters of the products seized came from Asia and mainly India. The majority of them were intercepted at Roissy airport, both in suitcases and in checked baggage. According to customs, 24 judicial inquiries were opened into various banned drugs, cosmetic products and doping substances. 55 illegal internet sites selling drugs were identified during the operation and seven online platforms have already closed. The other websites have been reported to the foreign countries that host them.
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