Kuala lumpur: A total of 130,678 units of illegal pharmaceutical products valued at 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) announced in a statement 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.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, operations in Malaysia were 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 were blocked and their content removed. The MOH stated that the measure aims to prevent the public from purchasing unregistered, counterfeit, or adulterated pharmaceutical products.
In collaboration with JKDM, the MOH inspected 497 postal packages, with 49 packages valued at RM766,721 seized due to containing illegal pharmaceutical products. Inspections were also conducted on passengers' luggage, leading to the seizure of 3,210 units of products worth RM11,843. The most seized products at postal hubs included health supplements, traditional products, counterfeit drugs, and unregistered controlled drugs, primarily sourced from India, Vietnam, China, Bangladesh, and Indonesia.
The statement highlighted an increasing trend of purchasing health supplements and products of unknown authenticity from abroad. A total of 65 premises were raided, resulting in the seizure of 93,861 units of illegal pharmaceutical products worth RM2.39 million. The most seized products included anti-parasitics, antibiotics, anti-inflammatories, and herbal products.
Globally, Operation Pangea XVIII saw the seizure of 6.42 million units of unauthorised and counterfeit pharmaceutical products valued at an estimated US$5.5 million. The operation also resulted in 269 arrests and the dismantling of 66 organised crime groups. Additionally, 392 investigations were initiated, and 158 search warrants were executed by participating countries. Approximately 5,700 websites, social media accounts, and automated bots were identified and disrupted in their sales operations.
The MOH has 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 emphasised 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 statement concluded by affirming the MOH's commitment to strengthening enforcement, enhancing digital monitoring, and expanding local and international cooperation to combat pharmaceutical crimes.