SINGAPORE: (Bernama) Singapore Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has seized 6,641 units of illegal health products intercepted at land, air, and sea checkpoints in a global enforcement exercise named Operation Pangea XVIII.
In a statement, the agency said the operation coordinated by Interpol involved 90 countries and was carried out from March 10 to 23, 2026.
According to HSA, the majority of the seized products were intercepted via postal services. They included prescription medicines such as painkillers or sedatives, anti-parasitic medicines such as ivermectin and dermal fillers.
During the crackdown, HSA also took down 959 illegal health product listings from local e-commerce and social media platforms, and issued warnings to 152 sellers.
"Illicit health products such as unregistered medicines, medical devices, and adulterated herbal medicines, as well as pharmaceutical manufacturing equipment were targeted for enforcement actions.
"HSA has participated in every edition of this collaborative effort since the inception of Operation Pangea in 2008," it said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Interpol in a separate statement said Operation Pangea XVIII has resulted in the seizure of 6.42 million doses of unapproved and counterfeit pharmaceuticals worth US$15.5 million (US$1=RM3.92).
It said 269 people were arrested in the operation and 66 criminal groups dismantled which were involved in the illicit pharmaceutical trade.
"Law enforcement agencies worldwide launched 392 investigations and executed 158 search warrants targeting criminal networks distributing unapproved, counterfeit, substandard, and falsified medical products," it said.
Interpol said two substances dominating the seizures are ivermectin, used to treat parasite and worm infections, and fenbendazole, a deworming agent approved only for veterinary use.
Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States, and the United Kingdom all reported significant seizures of both substances, it added. - Bernama
