07 May 2026 , 22:26
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The operation, known as “Pangea XVIII”, was conducted in March across all continents, resulting in the seizure of more than six million illicit medicines valued at over €14 million, the Lyon-based international police organization announced on Thursday.
Among the counterfeit or unlicensed medicines confiscated were drugs for erectile dysfunction, sedatives, painkillers, antibiotics, and smoking-cessation products.
The scale of the haul demonstrated the ongoing expansion of illegal pharmaceutical markets, particularly online, according to Interpol.
“Thanks to online markets and informal supply chains, criminals can exploit loopholes in controls and target people seeking quick or affordable treatments,” Interpol Secretary General Valdecy Urquiza stated. He warned that such products could have “serious, even fatal” consequences for consumers.
Veterinary medicines
Interpol voiced particular concern over what it described as a sharp rise in the seizure of anti-parasitic medicines, especially deworming products authorized only for veterinary use.
The organization stated that these products are increasingly being marketed online as “dietary supplements” or promoted as part of so-called alternative cancer therapies, despite a lack of scientific evidence to support such claims.
Interpol noted that the misuse of anti-parasitic drugs had already become apparent during the Covid-19 pandemic, when certain unproven treatments gained traction on social media and alternative health forums.
Authorities also indicated that demand for “performance-enhancing” and “lifestyle” pharmaceuticals – including steroids and peptides – continued to rise, driven in part by bodybuilding and fitness communities.
Factory raids
The operation resulted in major seizures in several countries. In Bulgaria, police dismantled an illicit drug manufacturing facility where millions of tablets, ampoules, and injectable products were recovered.
In Burkina Faso, authorities confiscated 384,000 antibiotic capsules, while in Côte d’Ivoire, investigators discovered a ton of counterfeit ibuprofen hidden inside a vehicle.
Interpol said the success of the operation reflected growing international cooperation against pharmaceutical crime but warned that counterfeit medicines remain a rapidly evolving and highly profitable global trade.
Technology & Business Editor