Singapore seizes over 6,600 units of illegal health products as part of Interpol operation

SINGAPORE – A sweep across multiple jurisdictions led by global policing body Interpol, with raids in Singapore by the Health Sciences Authority (HSA), has resulted in significant seizures of unapproved and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.

Interpol on May 7 said that Singapore, along with Australia, New Zealand, the US and Britain, reported significant seizures of ivermectin – a treatment for parasitic worm infections – and fenbendazole, which is commonly used as a dewormer for pets.

Often mislabelled as health supplements, these products are being sold as part of so-called cancer treatment kits, making them easier to access and avoid regulation, Interpol added.

Ninety countries participated in the international enforcement exercise, which was held from March 10 to March 23. Over the two weeks, law enforcement agencies worldwide seized a total of 6.42 million doses of the pharmaceutical drugs worth some US$15.5 million (S$19.67 million) as part of Operation Pangea, Interpol said.

Launched in 2008, Operation Pangea is an Interpol-led global enforcement exercise targeting the sale of illicit pharmaceuticals online.

In a statement issued on May 7, HSA said it had removed multiple listings for products such as unregistered contact lenses, and seized 6,641 units of illegal health products after intercepting their delivery at Singapore’s checkpoints.

About 88 per cent of the products were seized through postal services.

HSA said prescription medication such as painkillers or sedatives formed the majority of the seizures, accounting for around 36 per cent of all seizures.

Anti-parasitic medication such as ivermectin, a prescription-only medicine registered in Singapore for the treatment of parasitic worm infections, made up 30 per cent of all seizures in Singapore.

HSA warned that self-medicating with ivermectin can be dangerous. “It is not an anti-viral medicine,” the authority added.

“During the Covid-19 pandemic, there were cases of imports of ivermectin. HSA would like to remind that ivermectin is not approved for use in the prevention or treatment of Covid-19.” 

Also seized in Singapore were 110 boxes of pre-filled syringes of dermal fillers.

HSA said dermal fillers must be administered by registered healthcare professionals, adding that those sold online may contain unknown or harmful substances.

The toxic chemicals can cause scarring and even lead to anaphylactic shock, severe infections or the blockage of blood vessels, it said.

HSA also took down 959 illegal health product listings from local e-commerce and social media platforms, and issued warnings to 152 sellers. The bulk of the listings removed online, or 82 per cent, involved unregistered contact lenses.

Other listings included sellers touting products such as prescription-only skin medication, sexual enhancement drugs, nasal aspirators and sprays, and oxygen concentrators.

Global enforcement

Interpol said the authorities globally launched 392 investigations and executed 158 search warrants. The operations led to 269 arrests and the dismantling of 66 criminal groups.

The operations also disrupted about 5,700 criminally-linked websites, social media accounts, channels and automated bots that were used to market and sell the illicit products.

Interpol said 149,092 doses of anti-parasitic medication were seized, a sharp rise compared with previous years.

Two substances dominated the seizures: ivermectin and fenbendazole.

“This increase is being driven by growing online promotion of these products as alternative cancer treatments, despite repeated warnings from health authorities that such claims are not supported by scientific evidence,” Interpol said.

Counterfeit pharmaceuticals were also seized in the operation. Interpol said illicit versions of GLP-1 medication are often manufactured in Asia.

The substance, originally developed to treat diabetes, is now widely used as a weight-loss drug.

The policing body said some of the medication can be found being sold online for as low as about US$10.

“In some cases, they have been found to contain sibutramine – a substance banned in many countries due to links to heart attacks and strokes,” said Interpol, adding that fake medicines are not just a fraud but also put lives at risk.

“Through online marketplaces and informal supply chains, criminals can exploit gaps in oversight, targeting people looking for fast or affordable treatment,” said Interpol’s secretary-general Valdecy Urquiza.

“The consequences can be severe or even fatal.”

Interpol said other seized products included erectile dysfunction medications, sedatives, analgesics, antibiotics and anti-smoking products.

The operation saw 86,732 doses of anabolic steroids being seized, with Interpol noting that the demand is largely driven by the bodybuilding and fitness communities. Production was detected in parts of Eastern and South-Eastern Europe and established manufacturing hubs in India, Britain and the US.

HSA’s chief executive Raymond Chua called on the general public, healthcare professionals and the industry to continue alerting it to illegal health products, “so that we can take enforcement actions against them”.

“HSA will also continue to work with local and overseas partners, including Interpol, to expeditiously remove online listings or intercept parcel deliveries so as to protect public health and safety,” he added.

In Singapore, those caught importing, manufacturing or supplying illegal health products can be jailed for up to three years, fined up to $100,000, or both.