Foods and drug administration Shuts Down 1288 Illegal Websites
The Food and Drug Administration has shut down 1,288 illegal online pharmacies in the USA. An international action involving regulatory bodies around the world and governments of 99 nations shut down 9,610 online pharmacies globally between June 18th and 25th.
The FDA (Food and Drug Administration) says that the international "Operation Pangea VI" took action this week against 9,610 online pharmacies that sell potentially dangerous, fake, unapproved prescriptions drugs to consumers illegally.
The actions include:
Issuing regulatory warnings
Closing down of offending websites
Seizure of $41,104,386 worth of illegal medications around the world
The MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), the regulatory agency in the United Kingdom, announced that it has seized a record £12.2 million ($18.62 million) of unlicensed and counterfeit medications in the UK as part of a week-long international crackdown. During Operation Pangea VI, which was conducted between June 18th and 25th, 58 people were arrested around the world. "9,610 illegal websites that were selling unlicensed or counterfeit medications have been suspended or closed down through domain name or payment facility removal", according to MHRA
The FDA explained that Operation Pangea VI is part of the 6th annual International Internet Week of Action (IIWA), a worldwide collaborative drive against the online sale and distribution of potentially fake and illegal medications. The US side of operations involved the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations and the United States Attorney's Office for the District of Colorado. Between them they seized and shut down 1,677 illegal pharmacy websites.
Many websites appeared to belong to organized criminals networks
The FDA informed that a good number of these website pretend to be "Canadian Pharmacies" and belong to an organized criminal network. They display false licenses and certifications so that consumers believe they are legitimate and FDA approved.
During Operation Pangea VI, many drugs were seized - they were found not to be from Canada, were neither brand names nor FDA approved.
Some websites disguised themselves under household names to deceive US consumers into thinking they were dealing with well-known retailers. Examples include:
http://candidate.manpower.com
www.c-v-s-pharmacy.com
www.canadianhealthandcaremall.com/
John Roth, director of the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations, said:
"Illegal online pharmacies put American consumers' health at risk by selling potentially dangerous products. This is an ongoing battle in the United States and abroad, and the FDA will continue its criminal law enforcement and regulatory efforts.
The agency is pleased to participate in Operation Pangea to protect consumers and strengthen relationships with international partners who join in this fight."
The aim of Pangea VI was to find out who the makers and distributors of illegal medications and medical devices were and to remove these products from the supply chain.
Nimo Ahmed, MHRA's Acting Head of Enforcement, said
"During one week (in the UK) we have seized £12.2 million ($18.62 million) worth of counterfeit and unlicensed medicines. These were being stored in unacceptable conditions and supplied through illegal internet websites without prescriptions by people who are not qualified to dispense medicines.
When people buy medicines from an illegal website they don't know what they're getting, where it came from or if it's safe to take. The dose could be too high or too low, or the ingredients could break down incorrectly in the body, which makes the medicine ineffective. They could also become victims of credit card or identity fraud as well as downloading computer viruses.
We have closed down 1,288 of these illegal websites, but people need to take the time to see their GP about any problems they have with their health. People are far more likely to get better faster if they are on the correct course of safely prescribed medication."
A Warning Letter was sent by the FDA to Eve Pharmacy, on 26th June, 2013. Eve Pharmacy has hundreds of online pharmacies.
The FDA gave as examples these medications that were seized during the operation:
Generic Celebrex - there is currently no therapeutically equivalent version of Celebrex available. According to drugs.com "Fraudulent online pharmacies may attempt to sell an illegal generic version of Celebrex". Brand name Celebrex (celecoxib) is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug used to treat osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis and to manage acute pain in adult patients. The drug must be dispensed with a medication guide which explains the risks of heart attack, gastrointestinal bleeding or stroke.
Avandaryl (glimepiride and rosiglitazone) - a medication used to control blood sugar for some type 2 diabetes patients. Avandaryl raises the risk of heart attack or stroke, so it is only available to certain patients who cannot control their diabetes with other medications.
In the USA patients must be registered in the Avandia-Rosiglitazone Medicines Access Program. To be registered they sign documents stating that they understand the risks.
Clozapine - Clozaril (clozapine) is approved by the FDA for the treatment of schizophrenia. It is linked to potentially fatal agranulocytosis, a dangerously low white blood cell count that significantly raises the risk of life-threatening infection. Patients on Clozaril need to be enrolled in a registry that makes sure their blood counts are regularly monitored.
Levitra Super Force and Viagra Super Force - Viagra (sildenafil) and Levitra (vardenafil) are FDA-approved medications for the treatment of erectile dysfunction. However, Viagra Super Force and Levitra Super Force, which sellers claim contains dapoxetine, is not approved. The FDA has not determined how safe dapoxetine is for certain patients. Individuals with some heart conditions should not take sildenafil or vardenafil.
Several federal agencies, including the FDA checked medications received through selected International Mail Facilities during the IIWA. According to a preliminary investigation, several counterfeit drugs were on their way from abroad to customers in the USA, including sleep aids, antidepressants, hormone replacement therapies, and other medications to treat erectile dysfunction.
These illegal online "pharmacies" pose several risk to customers, apart from health risks, including:
Credit card fraud
Computer viruses
Identity theft
If you suspect any criminal activity, report it to the FDA at www.fda.gov/oci. If you live in the UK, MHRA has a 24-hour anti-counterfeiting hotline on 020 3080 6701, or email to counterfeit@mhra.gsi.gov.uk.
IIWA is a collaboration between the following agencies, nations and business sectors:
FDA
Heads of Medicines Agencies Working Group of Enforcement Officers
INTERPOL
The national health and law enforcement agencies from 99 nations
The Permanent Forum of International Pharmaceutical Crime
The pharmaceutical industry
The World Customs Organization
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