Over the course of a week-long operation, Northern Ireland police have seized illegal prescription tablets worth around £800,000. This crackdown led to the arrest of twelve individuals following

searches at 23 properties. The operation, undertaken by the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI), aimed to disrupt the online sale of counterfeit and illegal prescription drugs.

The PSNI reported that approximately 700,000 tablets with a street value of roughly £785,000 were confiscated during this effort. Operation Pangea, a global police action, played a significant role in intercepting these illegal prescription drugs, which included substances such as Zopliclone, Pregabalin, and Xanax. Additionally, the seized prescription medications consisted of diazepam, Botox, and weight-loss products.

Detective Chief Superintendent Andy Hill, who leads the PSNI's organized crime branch, expressed his appreciation for the seizures, highlighting their role in reducing harm within the community. He also emphasized the operation's significance in combating the demand for and misuse of prescription drugs.

Operation Pangea's primary objective is to disrupt the online supply of illegal medicines while raising awareness of the associated health risks.

Peter May, Permanent Secretary of the Department of Health (DoH), commended the interception of these medicines and cautioned the public against the temptation of acquiring medications from "professional-looking websites offering medicines without prescription." He stressed the elevated risks of obtaining potentially harmful, fake, or substandard medicines when bypassing the regulated system.

Richard Pengelly, representing the Department of Justice, underlined the importance of challenging those who profit from the misery of others. Removing these drugs from circulation ensures safer communities, protecting individuals from potential harm. Photo by Ardfern, Wikimedia commons.