The UK has topped in the recent global coordinated crackdown on the illegal medicines trade with a haul of nearly a third of 6.4 million doses seized across the world, as part of Operation Pangea XVIII.
According to a Medscape report, of the top 10 countries by seizures, the UK led the field with 2,122,591 doses seized, followed by Colombia (1,473,434), and Australia (752,617).
Over half of the medicines seized in the UK were controlled drugs, with the remainder classified as prescription-only medicines.
Globally, 682,317 doses of the seized drugs were for erectile dysfunction, while the other 620,949 were hypnotics and sedatives, and 502,611 were analgesics.
In the UK, The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) had confiscated nearly 4.4 million doses of erectile dysfunction drugs last year as well.
The MHRA stated that the stigma regarding erectile dysfunction has encouraged the illegal purchase of these medications among men.
In the UK, the 14-day enforcement operation conducted by the MHRA, UK Border Force, and the Department of Health Northern Ireland as part of Operation Pangea XVIII, an annual initiative by the INTERPOL, from 10 to 23 March this year.
The initiative was launched 20 years ago, and the latest one covered around 90 countries. The authorities captured £11.6 million worth of unauthorised products, and arrested 269 individuals.
Nearly 66 related criminal groups were also identified.
