Sites shut in swoop on online medicines
Monday November 17 2008
An Irish website selling prescription-only medicines has been shut down by the Irish Medicines Board (IMB).
Two premises, one in Dublin and one in Kerry, were raided by the board as part of an international internet day of action against the illegal sale of online medicines.
Selling prescription-only medicines by mail order or through the internet is against the law in this country.
The board has now issued a strong warning to customers not to buy medicines through unauthorised sources, as there can be no guarantees on the safety and quality.
Interpol
Under Operation Pangea, the Irish Medicines Board visited the two premises involved in the Irish-based website. The site allowed customers to link into internet sales of prescription-only medicines from a website based outside this country.
The Irish site has now been taken down and the IMB continues to liaise with counterparts in other countries under Operation Pangea, which involved ten countries.
It was co-ordinated by the Permanent Forum on International Pharmaceutical Crime, Interpol and the World Health Organisation's international anti-counterfeiting taskforce.
Prescription-only medicines bought over the internet can be taken and destroyed if they are intercepted coming into this country and the buyer will not be compensated.
Anonymity
Operation Pangea resulted in a series of arrests worldwide and the seizure of potentially harmful medicines.
The countries taking part included Ireland, Australia, Canada, Germany, Israel, New Zealand, Switzerland, the UK and the USA.
Interpol's executive director Jean-Michel Louboutin said many of the pills being sold in this way "contain little or no active ingredient" and the profits from the medicines were often directed towards organised crime.
"Operation Pangea is a clear demonstration that the international community is harnessing its efforts to ensure there is no anonymity or safety for those individuals engaged in supplying medicines illegally via the internet," said Mr Louboutin.
- Clodagh Sheehy
