“Pangea VII”: behind this name (which sounds like a spy film) hides the largest operation ever organized by Interpol against the sale of counterfeit drugs in the world.
9.4 million fake drugs seized in 111 countries, between May 13 and 20, 2014. 60 types of drugs concerned, including lenses, slimming pills and cough pills. 237 arrests, more than 10,000 online sales sites closed and nearly 19,000 advertisements extolling illicit products removed …
This Thursday, May 23, the international police agency Interpol announced an unprecedented crackdown in the world of medical counterfeiting: in total, the value of the products seized amounted to more than $ 36 million. In France, and only within the Parisian airport Roissy Charles De Gaulle, it is all the same more than 480,000 fake drugs which were intercepted by the customs officers …
The importance of social networks and consumer relationships
This is not the first time that Interpol has carried out this kind of large-scale operation: in 2013 already, “Pangea VI” had enabled the seizure of 9.8 million potentially dangerous counterfeits, but in fewer countries.
In order to spot fraud, the international agency was of course based on checks carried out in 111 countries, but also on reviews left by consumers and on social networks, where it is possible to report advertisements or illegal content.
According to the World Health Organization, the medical counterfeit market is booming: the WHO estimates that, on the Internet, 1 in 2 drugs is fake and, therefore, potentially dangerous for health …
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