Massive NI crackdown on imported medicines

TENS of thousands of illegally imported and unauthorised medicine packages have been seized in the province as part of a weeklong international operation.

During Operation Pangea XI, multiple packages containing some 60,000 tablets destined for addresses throughout Northern Ireland were intercepted.

The haul included diazepam, pregabalin and zopiclone.

The co-ordinated operation took place between October 9 and 16 and involved 116 countries, with the aim of disrupting the illicit online supply and raising awareness of the significant health risks associated with buying medicines from illegal websites and social media platforms.

Anthony Harbinson, Director of Safer Communities at the Department of Justice, and Chair of the Organised Crime Taskforce (OCTF) Strategy Group, said he was delighted with the outcome: “Working together we can help safeguard public health and bring to justice the criminals preying on vulnerabilities and illhealth.”

Peter Moore, Senior Medicines Enforcement Officer with the Department of Health’s Medicines Regulatory Group, added: “The illicit medicines recovered were destined for addresses throughout Northern Ireland leaving none of our communities immune from the dangers presented by drugs like these.

“Medication sold from disreputable websites can be poor quality at best and dangerous at worst.

“We urge the public not to be tempted by what look like cut prices or fooled by professional looking websites offering medicines without prescription.”