Net pharmacies raided in nine countries
Takedown targets unlicensed penis pill pushers
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Raids hit suspected internet drug peddling operations in nine countries on Wednesday as part of a international crackdown coordinated by Interpol.
Operation Pangea targeted the sales of unlicensed or prescription-only medicines over the net. The drugs on offer claimed to offer relief from treatments ranging from diabetes and obesity to hair loss.
The provenance of the drugs was unclear. Their suitability for sufferers who bought them is even more uncertain, since those running illegal pharmacy sites routinely fail to check medical records, leaving would-be patients at risk.
"Buying medicines from illegal and unregulated websites poses significant risks, not least that the buyer is putting their health in danger by taking drugs which have no guarantee of safety, quality or effectiveness," said Jean-Michel Louboutin, Interpol's executive director of police services.
The raids took place in countries including Canada, Germany, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland, the UK and the USA. The names of the firms raided and how many arrests were made are yet to emerge.
Investigations in some countries are ongoing, so further raids may follow.
In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) raided 12 addresses linked to seven internet sites under suspicion of selling unlicensed medicines that claimed to treat conditions ranging from impotency and obesity to steroid abuse. Thousands of packs of unlicensed medicines and some computers and related documents were seized during the raids. In addition, takedown orders against the allegedly infringing websites were filed with ISPs.
The US Food and Drug Administration was also involved in the operation but has not yet published an update at the time of going to press.
Many of the participating countries have organised raids on their own in the past, but Operation Pangea is billed as the the first time internationally coordinated raids have taken place. Organisations including the Permanent Forum on International Pharmaceutical Crime and the World Health Organisation’s International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce teamed up with Interpol to organise the crackdown. ®
COMMENTS
Small potatoes...
Probably make just a small dent. But it's better than nothing.
Shaun: The crap they sell half of the time [or most] is not even legit. You buy something from those sites are low dosage versions of dtugs --- if they are drugs at all. And if they don't work good luck in returning it. The fact that most are using spamming tactics to advertise is another reason not to trust them. EVer go to those sites? They advertise that they are hacker proof, Better Business Bureau approved, Verisign certificate, state or provincial approved and yet can't show proof. [The BBB and Verisign links should point to their respective sites but instead point to the pharamacy's own site.] Oh ya. The article said nothing about the pharmacy industry being on the raids, just Interpol and various police organizations.
sigh
I don't see why some grumpy old man should have the last say in what medication people are 'allowed'. People should be able to take whatever they damn well please, as long as they have full knowledge of the side effects, which shouldn't be hard considering there is a leaflet included in the box with all 62 possible side effects ranging from 'slight redness' to death.
What is really the problem with online pharmacies? Have a list of legit ones and lets just get on with life and let people buy their viagra without going to the doctor to have a 15 minute conversation confirming his particular malfunction.
Lets face it, if people are stupid enough to buy it from people who send them spam emails, then they're going to get a hold of what they want SOMEHOW so just allow people to buy prescription meds.
All your Viagra are belong to us. . .
That is all
/mines the one with the copy of Zero Wing in the pocket
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