Pharmaceutical Products Worth RM3.15 Mln Seized Via Operation Pangea Xviii -- MOH
PUTRAJAYA, June 12 (Bernama) -- A total of 130,678 units of illegal pharmaceutical products worth RM3.15 million were seized through Operation Pangea XVIII, a global enforcement operation coordinated by Interpol to combat the sale and distribution of unregistered, counterfeit and falsified medicines.
The Ministry of Health (MOH) in a statement today announced that the two-week operation from March 10 to 23 involved the participation of 90 countries, with the cooperation of various local and international enforcement agencies.
The MOH said that operations in Malaysia are coordinated by the Pharmacy Enforcement Division in collaboration with the Royal Malaysia Police, the Royal Malaysian Customs Department (JKDM), the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission, and the Digital Information Analysis Unit, CyberSecurity Malaysia.
"A total of 2,294 links selling illegal pharmaceutical products involving e-commerce platforms, websites, the dark web, and social media have been blocked and their content removed," according to the statement.
The MOH said that the measure aims to prevent the public from purchasing unregistered, counterfeit or adulterated pharmaceutical products.
According to the MOH, in collaboration with JKDM, a total of 497 postal packages were inspected, of which 49 packages valued at RM766,721 were seized because they were found to contain illegal pharmaceutical products.
In addition, the ministry announced that inspections were also conducted on passengers' luggage, which led to the seizure of 3,210 units of products worth RM11,843.
According to the MOH, the most seized products at postal hubs involve health supplements, traditional products, counterfeit drugs, and unregistered controlled drugs, most of which are brought from India, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh and Indonesia.
"This seizure also indicates an increase in the trend of purchasing health supplements and products of unknown authenticity from abroad.
"A total of 65 premises were raided with 93,861 units of products worth RM 2.39 million of illegal pharmaceutical products seized. Products such as anti-parasitics, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and herbal products were among the most seized pharmaceutical products," according to the statement.
At the global level, Operation Pangea XVIII recorded the seizure of 6.42 million units of unauthorised and counterfeit pharmaceutical products valued at an estimated US$5.5 million (US$1=RM4.05), in addition to 269 arrests made and 66 organised crime groups successfully dismantled.
According to the statement, 392 investigations were opened and 158 search warrants were executed by the participating countries, while 5,700 websites, social media accounts, and automated bots were identified and disrupted in their sales operations.
At the same time, the MOH also implemented 268 public awareness initiatives, including talks, dialogues, exhibitions, and digital approaches through social media, the ministry's official portal, infographics, awareness videos and podcasts.
The ministry emphasises that purchasing medicine through e-commerce platforms, social media, or unauthorised sources can pose serious risks including poisoning, treatment failure, dangerous side effects and death.
"The MOH will continue to strengthen enforcement, enhance digital monitoring, and expand local and international cooperation to combat pharmaceutical crimes," added the statement.
-- BERNAMA
