Tens Of Thousands Of Illegally Imported Drugs Seized In NI

Tens of thousands of illegally imported drugs and medicines have been seized in Northern Ireland.

Operation Pangea IX, which took place between 30 May and 07 June, involved 103 countries.

As part of Operation Pangea IX, multiple packages containing around 90,000 tablets and injections for addresses throughout NI were intercepted.

They included:

• 56,000 diazepam tablets

• 23,000 pregabalin tablets

• 2000 tramadol tablets and other medicines including steroids, erectile dysfunction tablets and anti-wrinkle injections.

Health Minister Michelle O'Neill said: "The risk to the public due to illegal or counterfeit medicines is very real. This problem is not something we can tackle in isolation and my Department is committed to working with other agencies to stop the supply of illegal medicines over the internet.

"The truth is that this might very well save lives, as sadly, young people are often unaware of the potentially fatal consequences of taking these unprescribed drugs, particularly when taken with alcohol."

Peter Moore, Senior Medicines Enforcement Officer said: "Participation in this Operation is part of our continuing efforts to reduce the harm that can be caused to the Northern Ireland public by those making use of the internet to commit crime or source their medicines. The operation has shown that the illicit medicines recovered were destined for addresses throughout Northern Ireland leaving none of our communities immune from the dangers presented by drugs like these."

Pic: Department of Health

(CD/MH)