Do you buy medicine or health products online..?
Have you ever verified those products,are you sure they are original..?
If your answer is NO then you need to know something.
OPERATION PANGEA XIV
It is a well planned execution of INTERPOL (International criminal police organization) along with 92 countries’ customs and their health regulatory authorities.
In 2021,as part of their yearly process interpol had conducted operation pangea, during may 18 – may 25 (week of action) which resulted in checking of 710,000 packages by participating countries and shut down of 113,020 weblinks and online marketplaces which reports as highest number ever since 2008, the first pangea operation.
Pandemic raising the numbers
Since the pandemic moved the public more towards online where criminals are quick to grab these new customers. while the world fighting covid19 which increased the demand for self protection and hygiene products criminals are cashing in the opportunity by using fake medicine and health products,more than 50% of medicine devices,covid test kits,seized during the pangea were fake and unauthorised
Dangers of fake medicine or health products
Firstly a medicine is said to be fake if it consists of improper composition or amount of active ingredients (too little, too much, none at all).
This can affect in different ways. If it doesn’t contain active ingredients it won’t cure, if it has more it can affect vital organs, improper composition of chemicals can affect badly,sometimes it might lead to death, if the patient is allergic to those components.
Illicit medicines
Since first pangea operation reports have few things in common in which we see steroids,people buying them are may not be victims every time they can be people willing bought these from unauthorised sellers.These drugs can be used for personal use which leads to addiction or drugs can be used for human trafficking or other crimes which is a big public safety issue.
One another common thing in reports is erectile dysfunction medicine which are mostly fake and these are found heavily in every report even in times pandemic this product has been nevertheless same numbers, these might seem someone’s personal issue but it is a reality of lack of sex education in world and criminals are cashing in the improper knowledge and weakness of people
SHOULD WE STOP BUYING ONLINE..?
Not necessarily but you should be careful while doing so. Interpol not only curbs the crime but also raises awareness among the people by social media campaigns, issues guidelines and advises public to follow the six P’s rule which are
- PLACE
buy only from known or authorised sellers
- Prescription
buy only from sites asking for prescription and never buy products other than prescribed by doctor or health experts
- Promise
Beware of promises and claims like
“100% result” ,”100%cashback”
“Limited edition buy before time” don’t fall prey to these criminals
- Price
Compare price from authorised sellers more cheaper product is more like to be fake
- Privacy
Never share any financial details with seller
- Products
Compare products and their composition before buying them
RESULTS OF PANGEA XIV
Shutdown of 11300 packages
277 arrests
93 million units got seized which worth 23 millions USD
Facts about Interpol
Est 1923 (98 years ago)
In 1914 first international criminal police congress lead to interpol
First president: Johannes Schober (1923-1932) from austria
Present president:Kim Jong Yang (2018-till date) from the Republic of Korea.
Headquarters of interpol : Lyon, France
Offices (7 regional bureaus + 3 special representative )
Interpol in india has is nodal office in CBI
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Similar operations
Operation rainfall in 7 asian countries
Qanoon in middle East and North Africa
Heera in west Africa
Sources: Interpol website, wikkipedia