Europol: an international trafficking ring of fake medicines for serious diseases dismantled – €240 million turnover (video)

Turnover 240 million. euros and action from 2019

The organisation allegedly operated with a strict hierarchical structure from 2019, having set up companies through which it marketed more than 400 supplements without the necessary marketing authorisation.

The illegal turnover of the criminal activity is estimated to have reached 240 million euros, revealing the vast scope of the scheme.

The illegal products were distributed through hundreds of websites and social media accounts. The perpetrators often used photos and names of well-known people, as well as fake identities of alleged doctors, in order to convince unsuspecting citizens to buy the preparations.

“Closed” 196 websites

As part of the operation, the authorities in Romania proceeded to shut down 196 websites used to sell the products.

At the same time, large quantities of illegal supplements were seized, mainly from the criminal organisation’s central warehouse in Bulgaria.

In addition, in Poland, assets with a total value of 1.8 million euros were seized.

The countries involved in the operation

The major transnational operation involved authorities from Romania, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Latvia, Hungary, Greece, Greece, Italy, Estonia, Lithuania, Poland, Slovakia, Spain, Moldova and once again the cooperation of European law enforcement agencies was decisive in dismantling organised circles that pose a risk to public health.