Ottawa, June 27, 2013 – Through Operation Pangea, the international fight against the illegal online sale of counterfeit and unlicensed medicines continues. In Canada this year, the RCMP and Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) joined forces with INTERPOL to inspect 3,444 packages originating from 19 countries. Of these, 3,223 packages which contained 238,820 illicit and fake medicines at a street value of $1,032,514.00 CAD have been seized.
This is the sixth year of Operation Pangea. It is an international week of action targeting websites which illegally supply dangerous medicines. Today at a press conference held in Toronto, the RCMP showcased some of the seized items, reminding the public that buying counterfeit and unlicensed medicines online is unsafe and can even be fatal. It also increases the risks of credit card fraud, identity theft and malware viruses. In addition, while users may not be aware, when buying these medicines they directly support organized criminal groups.
"Counterfeit pharmaceuticals is one of the world’s fastest growing illicit industries,” said RCMP Commissioner Bob Paulson. “As the organized crime groups behind this emerging threat become more and more sophisticated, it is all the more critical for the RCMP to continue strengthening its domestic and international partnerships to stop the flow of these illegal and dangerous products into Canada.”
This year the operation ran from June 18 to 25 and resulted in the confiscation of a wide range of counterfeit and illicit medicines including erectile dysfunction pills, weight loss pills, antibiotics, hormone replacement, muscle relaxants, beta blockers and bronchodilators.
“These seizures represent a small fraction of the counterfeit medications that are available in our country. This is the harvest of one week out of fifty-two, and in Canada only. This is a global challenge,” added Commissioner Paulson. “We continue to strongly support INTERPOL’s international operation which allows us to define the broader landscape of this criminal trend and focus our efforts more effectively.”
Operation Pangea VI is the largest Internet-based action of its kind targeting the international black market of illicit medicines. This year, it spanned 100 countries and resulted resulting in 58 arrests worldwide and the seizure of 9,895,926 million potentially dangerous medicines worth some USD $41,104,386. The global endeavour involved police, border security and national regulatory authorities with the support of Internet Service Providers, payment systems providers, and delivery services.
“Operation Pangea is one of the many ways the CBSA works together with its law enforcement partners to protect Canadians from the threat of counterfeit drugs,” said Megan Imrie, the Director General of CBSA’s Border Programs Directorate. “The interception of dangerous goods by CBSA officers plays an integral part in keeping our communities safe, and the CBSA remains vigilant in its efforts to ensure that only legitimate goods enter Canada.”
For the RCMP, INTERPOL-Ottawa, the CBSA and other Canadian partners this strong and integrated law enforcement approach is key to disrupting organized crime networks, an international problem which has no borders. Every year, Pangea is also an opportunity to engage the public in keeping our communities safe. Canadians should know there is no guarantee that medication purchased via the Internet is genuine or safe. Canadians are strongly encouraged to choose legitimate pharmacies when purchasing medicines, and to share any information on illicit activity with the RCMP or the police in their respective region.
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