Fake Cancer Drugs Smuggled into European Union

Police in four countries in Europe have conducted searches as part of an investigation of counterfeit cancer drugs allegedly being smuggled illegally into the European Union, according to the Cyprus Mail.

The simultaneous searches were orchestrated by the German Federal Police and were carried out by local agents in Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and Cyprus.

Police in four countries in Europe have conducted searches as part of an investigation of counterfeit cancer drugs allegedly being smuggled illegally into the European Union, according to the Cyprus Mail.

The simultaneous searches were orchestrated by the German Federal Police and were carried out by local agents in Germany, Switzerland, Norway, and Cyprus.

The news source reports that the investigation centered on counterfeit cancer drugs initially manufactured in the United Kingdom. The drugs were intended strictly for distribution outside the European Union, but upon arrival in an unnamed third country, they were modified by illegitimate pharmacists. The modified medications were then resold in a number of other countries, some of which are members of the European Union. According to the source, German and Norwegian police in charge of the investigation have pinpointed Cyprus as the distribution point from which the drugs were sold all over the world.

Acting on a court order received from the German Federal Police, Cypriot agents raided four sites scattered across the southern half of the island country.  According to the German and Norwegian authorities, the two companies allegedly bought the fake cancer medications before reselling them in Germany and Norway.

"From investigations conducted so far, it does not appear that any crime was committed on Cypriot soil… [but] we have uncovered a large number of documents which will be reviewed by us and the German police," Michael Katsounotos, a spokesman for the Cypriot police, said in a statement. "Further investigations are due to take place and the completed file will be given to the attorney general who will make the final decision if there are any charges to be brought against the companies."

According to Katsounotos, the investigation is now focusing on falsified documents from the Netherlands that indicate that the counterfeit drugs originated in Cyprus. He also assured the Cypriot public that none of the illegitimate medications were presently available on the market in that country.

In response to the raids, Popi Kanari, director of Cyprus' State Laboratory, warned the public of the risks of taking counterfeit medications, saying that "such drugs have been tested numerous times by the lab and have been found to contain toxic substances that can cause serious problems to one's health."