SINGAPORE-An Interpol-coordinated operation across 90 countries and territories seized $15.5 million worth of 6.42 million doses of unauthorized and counterfeit medicines.

Operation Pan Continental XVIII (10-23 March 2026) resulted in 269 arrests and the dismantling of 66 criminal gangs involved in the illicit drug trade.

Global law enforcement agencies launched 392 investigations and executed 158 search warrants targeting criminal networks that distribute unauthorized, counterfeit, substandard and counterfeit medical products.

The most seized products included erectile dysfunction drugs, tranquilizers, analgesics, antibiotics and anti-smoking products.

In addition, digital enforcement operations have disrupted some 5700 crime-related websites, social media pages, channels, and automated bots used to sell illegal drugs.

Interpol Secretary General Valdessa Urjisa said:

"Counterfeit medicines are more than just a scam-they can put lives at risk. Through online marketplaces and informal supply chains, criminals can exploit regulatory loopholes to target people seeking quick or economic treatment. The consequences can be very serious, even fatal.

"For law enforcement, protecting the public means disrupting the networks behind these products through increased cross-border cooperation. Nearly 20 years after the first Pangea operation was launched, it still has tangible results."

More than five tons of raw materials have been seized from a warehouse in Chittagong, Bangladesh. The cargo contained antibiotics and anti-inflammatories in vats that were incorrectly labeled as dicalcium phosphate, a common tablet ingredient.

The authorities in Burkina Faso have intercepted illegal drugs hidden in vehicles during clandestine transport operations.

Bulgarian authorities dismantled a clandestine anabolic steroid production facility and seized millions of incorrectly marked pills, ampoules and injectables.

In Ecuador, Operation Pan Continental XVIII resulted in the arrest of a number of persons involved in illicit drug trafficking.

Malaysian authorities conducted enforcement operations at airports, mail distribution centres, shops and private residences.

A raid at a beauty clinic in Thailand led to the seizure of more than 300 bottles of selmegllutide and tezepatide. These products are stored for distribution by customers who place orders through online platforms.

Turkish authorities have intercepted various illicit drugs at various locations throughout the country.

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Revival of antiparasitic drugs

The number of seizures of anti-parasitic drugs has risen sharply-a trend that last occurred during the "pan-continental operation" during the new crown epidemic ".

This increase is mainly due to the online promotion of these products as alternative cancer treatments, despite repeated warnings from health authorities that such claims are not supported by scientific evidence.

Two substances dominated these attacks: ivermectin, used to treat parasites and parasitic infections, and fenbendazole, an insect repellent approved for veterinary use only.

Often mislabeled as health supplements, these products are actually marketed as part of so-called "cancer treatment kits," making them more accessible and circumventing regulation.

Australia, New Zealand, Singapore, the United States and the United Kingdom all reported significant seizures of both substances.

Promise to quickly address health threats

Demand for performance-and lifestyle-related drugs continued to grow, with anabolic steroids once again the dominant category, with 86,732 doses seized worldwide.

Demand is mainly driven by the bodybuilding and fitness community, with production spread across parts of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe, as well as established manufacturing hubs in India, the UK and the US.

In Bulgaria, authorities dismantled a clandestine production facility and seized millions of incorrectly labeled pills, ampoules and injections.

Bisher Vuchkov, Director of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of the Interior of Bulgaria, said:

"Through its continued participation in Interpol's Pan-Cuban operation, Bulgaria has demonstrated its strong determination to fight illicit drugs, disrupt criminal networks and protect public health.

"The latest results highlight the power of coordinated action to combat illicit production, trafficking and online distribution on a global scale."

Governments around the world are also seeing a growing demand for peptides-synthetic substances that are promoted online for muscle growth, fat loss and recovery.

Originally used in scientific research, these products are now widely referred to as "research chemicals" or "cosmetic peptides" to avoid detection, although there are no approved dosages or safety standards for human use.

Australia, Ireland and New Zealand reported a large number of seizures, with hundreds of vials of the peptide seized in multiple enforcement operations.

At the same time, the surge in demand for GLP-1 drugs, which were originally used to treat diabetes but are now widely used for weight loss, has created new opportunities for criminal networks.

Illegal versions are often made in Asia and sold online for as little as $10. In some cases, they were found to contain sibutramine, a substance banned in many countries because of its links to heart attacks and strokes.

Criminals targeting essential drugs across Africa

The involvement of 12 African countries this year has revealed a clearer picture of the flow of illicit drugs in the region.

Unlike other regions, seizures in Africa consist mainly of essential medicines such as painkillers, antibiotics and antimalarials.

Criminal groups often sell these illicit drugs through the informal market to meet treatment needs, especially in areas where medical care is not affordable.

Many illicit drugs were found to be substandard, counterfeit, expired, improperly stored or missing critical safety information.

enforcement actions reflect the seriousness of the problem. In Burkina Faso, authorities seized 384,000 antibiotic capsules. In Côte d'Ivoire, a ton of counterfeit ibuprofen was seized from a vehicle, and in Cameroon, thousands of bottles of suspected counterfeit antimalarials and antibiotics were seized.

Edit Note

Operation Pangu is Interpol's annual online marketing operation targeting illegal drugs.

Additional support was provided by national health regulators, the European Anti-Fraud Office, Europol, the International Narcotics Control Commission, the Drug Safety Institute, the Transnational Alliance against Illicit Trade, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, the Universal Postal Union, the World Customs Organization and the World Health Organization.

The following 90 countries and territories participated in the eighteenth Pangu operation: albania, Angola, Argentina, Armenia, Aruba, Australia, Austria, Bangladesh, Belarus, Benin, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Brunei, Bulgaria, Burkina Faso, Cambodia, Cameroon, Canada, Central African Republic, Chile, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Côte d'Ivoire, Curaçao, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Swaziland, Ethiopia, Finland, France, Gabon, Georgia, Ghana, greece, Guinea, Hong Kong (China), India, Indonesia, Iraq, Ireland, Italy, Jamaica, Jordan, Kenya, Laos, Latvia, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar, Namibia, Nepal, New Zealand, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Northern Ireland, Norway, Panama, Philippines, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Rwanda, San Marino, Senegal, Serbia, Singapore, Spain sri Lanka, Sweden, Tanzania, Thailand, Timor-Leste, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, United Kingdom, united States, Uzbekistan, Venezuela, Zimbabwe.

Appendix

Table A: Top 10 Most Seized Drug Categories

Table B: The Top Ten Countries with the Highest Rates of Illicit Drug Seizures

*Aggregate data are sourced from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), UK Border Force, and the Department of Health in Northern Ireland.