Authorities seize €430k of illegal or counterfeit drugs
Irish authorities have seized more than €430,000 worth of illegal or counterfeit drugs as part of a major international clampdown.
Gardaí, customs officers and the Health Products Regulatory Authority took part in Interpol’s Operation Pangea between June 9-16 - which led to two arrests in Ireland.
Most of the medicines are ‘lifestyle drugs’ like teeth whiteners and erectile dysfunction medicines - which many people order online because they are too embarrassed to see their doctors about their problems.
Health Minister Leo Varadkar is urging people not to risk their health by buying medicine on the internet.
"I'd certainly encourage people not to be embarrassed to talk to their doctor about issues like erectile dysfunction, or being overweight or so on," he said.
"As somebody who has worked as a GP, I can tell you that huge numbers of people have issues like that, and they come in to their doctors all the time, and there's nothing to be embarrassed about.
"It's certainly not a reason to take an enormous risk by buying potentially counterfeit medicine online."
