Counterfeit medical items intended to assist in the fight against the global COVID-19 pandemic have been recently seized under Operation Pangea XIII, says Interpol.
The agency highlighted that the outbreak of COVID-19 globally "has offered an opportunity for fast cash, as criminals take advantage of the high market demand for personal protection and hygiene products".
Police, customs and health regulatory authorities from 90 countries 1 have enforced powers via Operation Pangea XIII, which Interpol stated has "resulted in 121 arrests worldwide and the seizure of potentially dangerous pharmaceuticals worth more than USD 14 million", including counterfeit face masks, substandard hand sanitisers and unauthorised antiviral medications.
The agency added that "during the week of action (3 - 10 March 2020) authorities in participating INTERPOL countries inspected more than 326,000 packages of which more than 48,000 were seized by customs and regulatory authorities".
Overall, approximately 4.4 million units of illicit pharmaceutical products 2 were seized by authorities during this operation. In addition, more than 37 000 unapproved and counterfeit medical devices were seized, with the vast majority of these being surgical masks and self-testing kits (HIV and glucose).
Interpol's Secretary General, Jürgen Stock, stated that "once again, Operation Pangea shows that criminals will stop at nothing to make a profit. The illicit trade in such counterfeit medical items during a public health crisis shows their total disregard for people's wellbeing, or their lives".
Under this operation, the general public within INTERPOL member countries have been reached via videos, brochures, exhibitions and talks at hospitals and schools, in an effort to raise awareness of the risks of purchasing pharmaceuticals from unregulated online sources. To date, more than 2500 web links (including websites, social media pages, online marketplaces and online advertisements) for illicit pharmaceuticals have been shut down, with a similar number being in the process of being closed down.
Footnotes
including Italy, Ireland, Costa Rica, Mozambique and Malaysia.
including cancer medications, pain medications/analgesics, anabolic steroids, nervous system agents, hypnotic and sedative agents, erectile dysfunction pills, skin therapy agents and vitamins.
Reference
- Interpol. Global operation sees a rise in fake medical products related to COVID-19. Internet Document : 19 Mar 2020. Available from: URL: https://www.interpol.int/en/News-and-Events/News/2020/Global-operation-sees-a-rise-in-fake-medical-products-related-to-COVID-19