Operation Pangea is a yearly operation involving many countries and law enforcement agencies which cooperate in a one week operation targeting online rogue pharmacies.
From October 9-16, 116 countries combined forces to combat the problem of online rogue pharmacies in Operation Pangea XI. The results were staggering and include: 859 arrests and the seizure of 500 tons of illicit pharmaceuticals worth an estimated $14 million. The pharmaceuticals included: anti-inflammatory medication, painkillers, slimming pills and medicines for HIV, Parkinson’s, erectile dysfunction, anabolic steroids and diabetes.
More than 110,000 medical devices including syringes, contact lenses, hearing aids and surgical instruments were seized. Also seized were counterfeit medical devices included 737 expired cardiac surgery instruments smuggled into the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia.
The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) special agents initiated several criminal investigations and took down more than 450 domain names including http://www.nextdaypills.com, http:www.top-meds-discounts.com and http://www.bestgenericstores.com. In all, 3,671 web links were closed down including websites, social media pages and online marketplaces.