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News Release
National 2009
RCMP and CBSA caution against purchasing drugs online
A video featuring highlights of the event is available on the RCMP's Web site.
Vancouver, British Columbia, November 19, 2009 – For many Canadians the prospect of buying discounted pharmaceuticals over the Internet is an offer that appears too good to be true. Today the RCMP and the Canada Border Services Agency are joining law enforcement agencies from around the world in saying that it is more dangerous than that. It's not just a waste of money, it could cost you your health.
This week the RCMP and the CBSA joined police forces and health agencies from 26 countries in an international effort to raise awareness about the growing problem of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and health products sold over the Internet. Operation Pangea II, coordinated by INTERPOL and the World Health Organization International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce, aims to educate people around the world about the dangers of illegal drugs supplied online.
While many professional-looking Web sites claim to offer cheap, legitimate and legal products, these claims are most likely false. Over the past six months, CBSA officers working at the Vancouver International Mail Centre have intercepted thousands of parcels containing unapproved pharmaceutical products arriving from foreign countries. These products fall under four categories: suspect counterfeit prescription drugs; mislabeled health supplements that contain undisclosed prescription medicine; mislabeled health supplements; and products containing steroids and other controlled or prohibited substances.
Most recently, phony H1N1 vaccines have been reportedly sold online adding to the other popular unapproved products claiming to be Viagra, Cialis, and Levitra which are routinely found and confiscated.
"The groups that sell these products online are often involved in organized crime," explains Sgt. Duncan Pound, RCMP Border Integrity Program. "They identify a need such as concerns over H1N1 and sell a fake product to make a quick buck. These people are not concerned about the quality of what they sell or the end results when it arrives at its destination."
According to CBSA officers at the Vancouver International Mail Centre, they have intercepted over 10,000 packages of suspect health products over the past six months. These products are sent to Health Canada for determination and action, and if required, referred to the RCMP for further investigation.
"Government agencies work together to protect the health and safety of Canadians every day, and this is a good example of such inter-agency cooperation," says Heather Ardiel, CBSA's Chief of Operations at the Vancouver International Mail Centre. "The interception of dangerous goods at our borders plays an integral part in keeping our communities safe, and our officers remain vigilant in their efforts to ensure that only legitimate goods enter Canada through the mail stream."
As with all offers where the product is coming from an unknown source, caution is recommended.
"We routinely deal with counterfeit products, large volumes of which are sold via the Internet and are advertised as the legitimate product. With any medicine that is not purchased through a pharmacy or obtained from a medical professional in Canada, you should not risk taking it. These products may look genuine but in fact may be harmful or toxic," says Sgt. Pound.
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For more information please contact:
Sgt Duncan Pound
RCMP Border Integrity
604-264-3674
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