COSTA RICA NEWS – Costa Rica’s Ministerio de Salud (Ministry of Health) was among 111 countries participating in Operation Pangea, a global initiative by Interpol tackling the online sale of counterfeit and illicit medicines, between May 13 and 20.
Participating in Costa Rica’s operation were the Fuerza Pública (police), Policía de Fronteras (border police) and the Fiscalía (Attorney General), at the countries borders, airports and customs offices.
In Costa Rica, Dr. Esteban Cerdas, with the department for the regulation of products, said the confiscationg included 50 units of counterfeit morphine.
The doctor stressed that counterfeit and adulterated products do not meet with Health regulations, mainly because its content are not clear.
Globally 9.4 million fake and illicit medicines seized, including slimming pills, cancer medication, erectile dysfunction pills, cough and cold medication, anti-malarial, cholesterol medication and nutritional product; with seizures worth nearly US$36 million dollars and resulting in 239 arrests and more than 10.600 websites shut down. Click here for the Interpol press release.
The main attraction to these drugs is the price, selling at much lower than brand name products.
