23 held, 286 illegal pharmaceutical websites closed in Italy

Italian law enforcement officials announced on Thursday the arrest of 23 individuals and the shutdown of 286 websites illegally selling pharmaceuticals in Italy and beyond, reported Xinhua.

The Carabinieri Command for the Protection of Health carried out the operation, codenamed "SHIELD V," under the direction of Europol between April and November 2024. The crackdown involved officials from 30 European nations.

In Italy, authorities seized illegal and counterfeit pharmaceuticals worth 2.6 million euros (2.7 million U.S. dollars). Alongside the arrests and website closures, law enforcement dismantled a clandestine laboratory and two criminal groups involved in the illicit trade.

Europol reported that across Europe, the operation targeted 52 organized crime groups, with 418 individuals arrested, charged, or under prosecution. Authorities seized illegal products valued at more than 11.1 million euros.