Irish authorities have seized over €430,000 worth of illegal or counterfeit drugs as part of a major international clampdown.
Gardaí, customs officers and the Health Products Regulatory Authority took part in Interpol’s Operation Pangea between June 9th and 16th - which led to two arrests in Ireland.
Most of the medicines are ‘lifestyle drugs’ like teeth whiteners and erectile dysfunction medicines - which people order online because they’re too “embarrassed” to see their doctors about their problems.
In the UK, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seized more than six million doses of illegally supplied medicines in the week of raids, along with slimming pills and fake condoms.
The operation also targeted websites that were offering falsified, counterfeit and unlicensed medicines and led to the closure or suspension of 1,380 sites.
In total the operation yielded more than €70 million worth of items from 115 different countries.
Health Minister Leo Varadkar is urging people not to risk their health by buying medicine on the internet, adding there's 'nothing to be embarrassed about' with health issues:
