More than a quarter of a million potentially harmful tablets were seized in Ireland this month as part of a co-ordinated Interpol operation targeting the online sale of counterfeit and illegal medicines.
The Irish Medicines Board (IMB), the Revenue Commissioners' Customs Service and gardaí participated in operation Pangea III which resulted in the seizure in Ireland of 262,000 tablets and capsules worth an estimated €500,000.
Five of the websites investigated involved Irish-based sellers. None of these were closed as the investigation is still ongoing. One person was arrested in Ireland.
The global police co-operation agency said 267,855 packages were inspected across the world throughout the week-long operation. It resulted in the seizure of 10,916 packages. In total, 1,014,043 tablets were seized.
The confiscated tablets largely related to erectile dysfunction pills, weight loss, antibiotics, hormones and steroid products, anti-depressants, pain killers, cardiac medication, anti-cholesterol, stimulants/amphetamines, cancer medication and insulin.
Some 328 portal hubs were inspected for illegal activity resulting in the closure of 290 websites across 45 countries.
One of the goals of the operation was to raise awareness of the associated health risk.
IMB chief executive Pat O'Mahony said counterfeit and illegal medicines pose a serious threat to public health.
"These websites can appear professional and genuine. The reality is they are an elaborate and potentially dangerous deception. You have no way of knowing what these medicines really contain, where they were made or the effect they might have on your health," Mr O'Mahony said.
"The IMB, in conjunction the Revenue's Customs Service and An Garda Síochána, continually monitors and investigates instances of illegal supply of medicinal products via the internet and we actively enforce suspected breaches of the law," he added.
