This year marks 15 years since the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) launched Operation Pangea, an initiative cracking down on medicines crime.
Pangea is now coordinated by Interpol, and the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) joined 89 countries for this year’s operation. Working with law enforcement partners, the CEU seized over two million doses of medicines this year valued at nearly £5 million.
Among the products seized in the UK were several prescription-only medicines including anti-depressants, pain medication and human growth hormones.
Andy Morling, MHRA Deputy Director of Criminal Enforcement said: “You should only purchase prescription medicines from a pharmacy and only when prescribed by a healthcare professional. Buying powerful medicines from any other source poses a direct danger to your health as they will not meet our strict quality and safety standards.
“If anyone has a concern about their health, they should visit their GP or pharmacist, get a correct diagnosis and if medicines are prescribed, obtain them from a legitimate source.
“Fifteen years ago, the MHRA started Operation Pangea, combining our knowledge and resources with those of international partners to disrupt and bring to justice the criminal gangs responsible for selling medicines illegally and causing harm around the world.
“We’re proud to see how Operation Pangea has grown from a small collaboration into a powerful example of what can be achieved through partnerships working to tackle this kind of offending.
“If you see these products, or any other powerful medicines, being sold online, you can help the MHRA take action by reporting concerns to us through our Yellow Card scheme.”
The first official Operation Pangea took place in November 2008, building on the UK’s established ‘Internet Day of Action’ (IDA). Over 1000 packs of unlicensed medicines were seized in the UK on a single day.
Operation Pangea has now grown into a huge global operation, combining the knowledge and resources from organisations in countries such as Canada, Germany, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland and the USA, as well the World Health Organisation and Interpol.