EU law enforcement authorities seize millions of fake pills

Published: 8-Sep-2014
Regulatory

Part of an ongoing crackdown by a range of law enforcement bodies on the distribution of counterfeit medicines in the EU


On 1 September law enforcement authorities in Austria, Belgium, the UK, Cyprus and Hungary seized several million counterfeit pills in simultaneous operations coordinated by the EU law enforcement agency Europol and the judicial co-operation agency Eurojust. The medicines seized are worth at least €10m, according to Europol.

The operations are part of an ongoing crackdown by a range of law enforcement bodies on the distribution of counterfeit medicines in the EU. Co-ordinated investigations into the activities of organised crime groups distributing online fake medicines, and especially erectile dysfunction pills, started in September 2012. Law enforcement authorities from Austria, the UK, France, Hungary, Slovakia and Spain have seized counterfeit pills worth together at least €24.5m since that date.

'The counterfeit medicines targeted by this operation are imported into the EU from Asia and contain incorrect dosages and ingredients that pose a serious health hazard,' said a Europol statement. The two main countries of origin of the counterfeit pills are China and India, according to Eurojust.

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