MORE than 60,000 illegal prescription drugs destined for Northern Ireland have been seized as part of an international operation.
Multiple packages of highly addictive opiates including diazepam and pregabalin which were purchased online were intercepted by the Interpol team.
Known as 'Operation Pangea XI', the operation took place over a week between October 9 and 16 and involved 116 countries.
Detectives targeted illegal website and social media platforms. The counterfeit pills were due to be delivered to addresses across the north.
The World Customs Organization, the Permanent Forum of International Pharmaceutical Crime, the Heads of Medicines Agencies, social media giants including Twitter and Facebook and credit card companies were all involved as well as the Department of Health in Northern Ireland.
Detective Superintendent Bobby Singleton said prescription drug abuse and subsequent deaths "cannot be solved by policing alone" adding the PSNI would continue to work with our law enforcement partners to prevent the importation and supply of illicit and counterfeit drugs.
Peter Moore, senior enforcement officer with the Department of Health's medicines regulatory group warned that fake medication sold from disreputable websites can be "poor quality at best and dangerous at worst".
"We urge the public not to be tempted by what look like cut prices or fooled by professional looking websites offering medicines without prescription. Taking short cuts and using these medicines could expose you to a dangerous counterfeit or substandard medicine."
