Europol Busts International Ring of Fake Pharma Distributors

Two British citizens were arrested in the UK and four people: one Spanish, one Dutch, and two Romanians were arrested in Murcia, Spain after a several months-long investigation known as ‘Operation Tribulus.’

The six individuals are charged with importing counterfeit pharmaceuticals from Asia, primarily from China and Singapore, and distributing them across Europe via the internet.  These drugs included well known brands and generic medicines made in secret labs in the source countries.

According to Europol, some of the medicines are potentially laced with dangerous ingredients that serve as fillers.

“It is very common for counterfeit medication to contain no active ingredients and often they are made using ineffective or dangerous substances which can cause liver damage, irreversible health problems or even prove to be fatal,” Europol said in a news release.