National Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center (IPR Center) authorities recently detailed collaboration with 94 Interpol member countries resulting in 7,800 illicit medication seizures totaling $11 million.
Operation Pangea XV was conducted from June 23-30. The scope of work included investigating social media platforms and messaging apps; eliminating or removing over 4,000 web links containing adverts for illicit products; inspecting close to 3,000 packages and 280 postal hubs at airports, borders and mail distribution or cargo mail centers; and establishing over 600 new investigations while issuing over 200 search warrants.
“Two decades’ worth of experience has shown criminals will stop at nothing to make a profit, including selling counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical devices despite dangers they cause,” IPR Center Director Jim Mancuso said. “The United States is committed to working closely with our international law enforcement partners and the private sector to keep counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical devices out of the global supply chain, as well as taking down transnational criminal organizations who profit from these scams.”
Mancuso said Operation Pangea XV results serve as a warning to transnational criminal organizations that law enforcement agencies globally will do whatever it takes to protect public health and safety.
“Dealing counterfeit or illicit medicines online may seem like a low-level offense, but the consequences for victims are potentially life-threatening,” Interpol Secretary General Jürgen Stock said. “The illicit supply chains and business models behind the trade in counterfeit medicines are inherently international, meaning that law enforcement has to work together across borders in order to effectively protect consumers.”