Interpol-led operation nets falsified medicines in Africa

More than 420 tonnes of illicit pharmaceutical and medical products have been seized in an operation in West Africa coordinated by Interpol.

Operation Heera involved raids on markets, shops, pharmacies, warehouses, vehicles and illicit factories and led to the seizure of more than 41 million pills and 13,000 cartons of illicit pharmaceutical and medical goods, estimated to be worth almost $22m, and led to around 150 people being arrested or placed under investigation.

Seized goods included health supplements, herbal products, analgesics, antibiotics, antimalarial medicine, vitamins, mineral supplements, as well as printing and packaging equipment. Some 100 tonnes of illicit medicines concealed in trucks carrying fruit were seized in Koro, Benin. The trucks allegedly originated from Guinea and were destined for countries throughout the region.

"Initiatives such as Operation Heera not only aim to protect the public from potentially unsafe goods, they also help to dismantle illegal networks which are often connected to other forms of serious crime," commented Interpol's executive director of police services Tim Morris.

The operation was carried out in seven countries – Benin, Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire, Mali, Niger, Nigeria and Togo - between May 15 and June 17.