Operaton Pangea seizes counterfeit drugs

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LYON, France, Oct. 5 (UPI) -- A series of raids in 100 countries led to the seizure of 3.75 million doses of counterfeit pharmaceuticals, Interpol, based in Frances, said Friday.

Officials said the total haul in this year's Operation Pangea was worth 8.1 million euros ($10.6 million), a record for the global effort, Radio France Internationale reported.

Pangea 5 was carried out between Sept. 25 and Oct. 2. Customs agents seized pharmaceuticals that included dietary supplements, appetite-suppression pills and drugs aimed at everything from male impotence to cancer, and arrested 79 people.

"As the Internet becomes increasingly accessible around the world, so the number of potential victims increases, which is why international multisector actions such as Operation Pangea are vital," said Aline Plançon, head of Interpol's Medical Products Counterfeiting and Pharmaceutical Crime unit.