RM60mil in unapproved Covid-19 med, products seized in global Interpol operation

KUALA LUMPUR: Masks and hand sanitisers that did not meet standards, unapproved antivirals and dangerous medicine worth more than US$14mil (RM60.9mil) were confiscated during Operation Pangea XIII targeting sale of illegal medicine and medical products via the internet, says the Health Ministry.

The global operation spearheaded by Interpol from March 3-10 identified 2,000 links that advertised the items relating to Covid-19.

"From the items seized during Operation Pangea this year, there was 18% increase in unapproved antivirals and more than 100% increase in hydroxychloroquine and chloroquine that were not allowed for Covid-19 treatment," said Health director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah (pic) in a statement on Wednesday (April 29).

The operation shut down more than 2,500 web links, including websites, social media sites and online marketplace and e-marketplace that sell prohibited medicines, he said.

"The combined efforts by the authorities throughout the world also busted the activities of 37 organised crime groups," he added.

In Malaysia during the movement control order (MCO) from March 18 to April 20, as many as 38 complaints relating to medicine and pharmaceutical products that claimed to treat Covid-19 were received, said Dr Hisham.

A total of 182 website links that sold unregistered medicine claiming to treat Covid-19 were screened and blocked, he said, adding that 556 notifications were also issued to e-marketplace platforms to take down the sale of unregistered products for the same purpose.

"Criminals have taken advantage of the high demand for protective and hygiene related products during the Covid-19 pandemic.

"As such, consumers need to play an important role in ensuring that the medicine they buy are safe, of high quality and effective," he said.

During the operation, Malaysia took action against 347 personal websites, 360 social sites and 585 links on e-marketplace platforms found to sell pharmaceutical products that breached the law, he said.

As many as 853 postal packages were checked, and 79 of the packages containing unregistered pharmaceutical products were confiscated, while checks were also carried out in all main entry points in the country, he said.

More than a million units of unregistered medicines worth RM2.55mil were confiscated, he said.

"Among the main products discovered and confiscated were cosmetics that were not notified and also health products that were mostly not registered with the Health Ministry," he said

Operation Pangea VIII organised by Interpol is the largest Internet-based operation conducted internationally so far.

In Malaysia, the operation involved collaborations between the Health Ministry and the Customs Department, Communications and Multimedia Commission, Pos Malaysia, the courier parties and e-marketplace platforms.

Other enforcement activities carried out by the Malaysian authorities were raids and checks on sellers and business premises that were involved in online sale, said Dr Hisham.

Raids were carried out on 50 unlicensed premises that sold mostly online pharmaceutical products.

From the raid, 23,278 pharmaceutical products estimated at RM633,456 did not meet the provisions of the law. They were confiscated for further action to be taken.

Also confiscated were computers and mobile phones used for marketing the products.

"The ministry will continue monitoring websites and social media and step up enforcement activities on the sale of pharmaceutical products online even after the operation has ended," said Dr Hisham.