INTERPOL has confiscated 6.4 million doses of unauthorized medications in an operation conducted in 90 countries, including Romania

The Pangea XVIII operation, conducted between March 10 and 23, 2026, involved 90 countries, including Romania, and led to the seizure of 6.42 million doses of unauthorized pharmaceutical products, valued at 15.5 million dollars.

This operation resulted in 269 arrests and the dismantling of 66 criminal groups involved in illicit trade. Among the most confiscated medications were those for erectile dysfunction, sedatives, analgesics, and antibiotics. Additionally, authorities disrupted approximately 5,700 websites and social media channels used for the sale of illicit drugs. An alarming trend was the increase in seizures of antiparasitic medications, promoted online as alternative treatments for cancer, despite the lack of scientific evidence. There was also a rise in demand for steroids and weight loss drugs, with production detected in Eastern and Southeastern Europe.

The Secretary General of INTERPOL highlighted the dangers posed by counterfeit medications, which endanger lives.