LYON, France — May 7, 2026
Interpol has confiscated over 6.4 million doses of counterfeit and unapproved medicines worth $15.5 million in a worldwide operation, arresting 269 suspects and dismantling 66 criminal networks.
Operation Details and Seizures
The operation, spanning 90 countries, targeted illegal online pharmacies and informal supply chains distributing fake or unregulated pharmaceuticals. Among the seized products were erectile dysfunction treatments, sedatives, and smoking cessation aids. The United Kingdom, Colombia, and Australia accounted for the largest hauls, with significant quantities also found in the U.S., New Zealand, and Singapore.
Authorities noted a troubling rise in the seizure of antiparasitic drugs like Ivermectin and Fenbendazol, which were falsely marketed as alternative cancer treatments. Health experts emphasized that no clinical trials support these claims. "There are no completed clinical studies in humans that show the effectiveness of Ivermectin against cancer," one source stated, adding that evidence for Fenbendazol was even weaker.