A series of raids conducted by the police in Barcelona led to the arrest of 10 suspects, all of Chinese origin. During the operation, they seized 20,000 condoms and thousands of doses of what appeared to be erectile dysfunction drugs from China, Japan, India, and the United States.
National Police agents discovered that the men's health products sold by the group lacked any form of medical control, both in manufacturing and in prescription and distribution.
Erectile dysfunction, which affects hundreds of millions of men worldwide, can be a source of significant concern and embarrassment, hindering proper diagnosis and treatment of its underlying causes, according to a men's health center based in Florida.
Instant messaging applications that offer anonymous treatment options are appealing to individuals who prefer not to disclose their impotence even to their own doctors.
The criminal group took advantage of this, but after a client filed a complaint about the poor quality of a product ordered from a reputed brand, the National Police initiated an investigation.
During the investigation, it was discovered that the criminal ring had built a nationwide client base that could easily order products through instant messaging applications. The group was also marketing its products in Poland and Italy, according to the police.
In addition to confiscating off-brand condoms and drugs during the raids, the police found numerous interconnected computer devices and mobile phones, which investigators believe were used by customers to place online orders.
The suspects also used dark web browsers and applications to mask their internet connection and avoid detection.
