More than 33 million euros in counterfeit medicines seized across 30 countries

In 30 countries, authorities confiscated counterfeit medicines, doping substances and illegal supplements with a combined value exceeding 33 million euros ($38.86 million), and five clandestine laboratories were closed as part of coordinated action against pharmaceutical crime, Europol said Wednesday.

The operation was carried out between April and November 2025 and targeted networks trafficking fake and misused medicines that pose serious public-health risks. Investigators prosecuted 3,354 suspects and identified 43 organized crime groups. 

Europol said the operation highlighted emerging health threats, including counterfeit products sold as fat-burners and other fake medicines. Criminal networks are exploiting rising demand for weight-loss drugs, performance enhancers and recreational substances, often distributing falsified products through unregulated online platforms that bypass safety controls.