Large-scale international operation Pangea X that was initiated by Interpol together with Europol and FDA (US Food and Drug Administration) is now over. It took place on 12-19th of September and has become the largest in the history of fight against illegal online trade of fake and counterfeit medication and medical equipment. The operation was conducted for the tenth time. Back in 2008 it was only 7countries that took part, this time it united law enforcement, customs services and bodies that control the circulation of drugs and medication in 123 countries.
The exact number of domain names blocked during the operation remains unknown for now. However, DomainPulse reports quoting FDA data that in the USA alone it’s over 100. Among them are domains such as buyhydrocodoneonline.com, canadian-pharmacy24x7.com and buyklonopin.com. The number of websites blocked worldwide was 3584. Moreover, law enforcement suppressed the activities of several domain registrars, payment systems and courier delivery services that took part in the chain of illegal online trade.
Other digits impress as well. For example, in Vietnam alone about 1.2 tons of counterfeit pills to cure erectile dysfunction were seized. Other drugs popular among illegal online sellers were dietary supplements, pain reduction pills and nutritional products. Special attention during the operation was paid to illegal distribution of Fentanyl and other opioid painkillers. The uncontrolled spread of these pills in the recent years has led to thousands of cases of overdose, many of which were fatal. Altogether under Pangea X, around 400 arrests were conducted, 1058 investigations initiated and the total value of all medications seizes is estimated at over $51 million.
