Europol is warning consumers to be cautious about the emergence of fake medicines offered online.

From April to November 2024, competent police, judicial, customs, medical and anti-doping authorities from 30 countries joined forces in an operational action called "SHIELD V". Coordinated by Europol, this global effort was directed against the trafficking of counterfeit and abused medicines and illegal substances used as doping.

The 2024 operational action was supported by the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), Frontex, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and national anti-doping agencies.

Operation SHIELD 2024 was led by a steering group composed of law enforcement authorities from France, Greece, Italy and Spain. Europol supported this broad operation through numerous operational meetings and the deployment of experts with mobile offices providing analytical and forensic support.

- 418 people arrested, against whom indictments have been filed or criminal prosecution is ongoing

- 52 organized crime groups are the subject of criminal investigations

- 4 illegal laboratories discovered

- seizures with a total value of over 11.1 million euros, specifically:

- 4.111 kilograms of powder and raw materials

- 108 liters of active ingredients

- 174.968 bottles and ampoules

- more than 4,683,426 tablets and pills

Pharmaceutical crimes are a growing threat in the EU

Pharmaceutical crimes directly impact human health and safety, affecting individuals, communities and national healthcare systems. Not only do they create significant financial losses for legitimate businesses and undermine brand credibility, they also jeopardize investments in drug research.

To highlight this growing threat, Europol has prepared a special report on intellectual property crime (IPC) targeting the production and trade of pharmaceutical products.

By selling substandard, falsely labeled or counterfeit pharmaceutical products, as well as products outside the legal supply chain, organized crime networks are behind a whole range of illegal drugs and substances used for doping.

Counterfeit medicines traded in the EU are on the rise, causing huge costs for individuals and society. Europol, the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) have joined forces to raise awareness of the issue of counterfeit medicines and how they are working to protect consumers from this threat.

Social media and online marketplaces, including those on the dark web, continue to play a major role in the trade in counterfeit pharmaceutical products. These platforms offer varying degrees of anonymity and because they are aimed at the general public, it is very difficult to identify the perpetrators.

Buying counterfeit medicines rewards perpetrators, endangers consumer health and ruins the economy. Consumers are warned not to buy counterfeit medicines, as they not only finance organized crime, but also harm their health.