News Coverage

The Partnership for Safe Medicines has been publishing information about the counterfeit drug problem around the world for more than a decade. With experts leading the organization and a committed and passionate set of writers and editors, our content is more in-depth than many other sources, which simply copy links to the news from other websites.

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Cooper Davis Act (S.1080) to have minimal fiscal impact.

November 13, 2023

For those following the Cooper Davis Act (S.1080) which would require social media platforms to report drug dealing when they discover it, the Congressional Budget Office has analyzed the legislation and said it will “not significantly increase net direct spending” and “not increase on-budget deficits”.

Large orange carts filled with seized items

November 6, 2023: Operation Pangea XVI intercepts $7mm in illicit medicines

November 6, 2023

Interpol announced the results of Operation Pangea and U.S. CBP reported on pill press seizures.  News about counterfeit medicine in the U.S, Belgium, China, and Indonesia,

A gloved hand holding container of eye drops above a child's eye

October 30, 2023: More contaminated eye drops found on retail shelves

October 30, 2023

FDA warned about contamination in 26 different over-the-counter eye drops. Ten New York residents were indicted in another black market HIV medicine scheme. Additional stories in California, Florida, and Texas.

FDA Alert: Pain Relief Dietary Supplements Recalled Due to Presence of Diclofenac

October 26, 2023

Risk Statement: Consumption of undeclared diclofenac could result in serious adverse events that include cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, and anaphylaxis in patients taking concomitant NSAIDs and/or anticoagulants, such as Warfarin, in those who have allergies to diclofenac, or those with underlying cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, renal, and hepatic illnesses.

Map of Florida with a pill bottle displaying a maple leaf. As it peels away, the label shows a poison symbol

Decision on Florida’s importation program delayed

October 24, 2023

A delay in Florida’s response to FDA questions means the agency’s decision won’t be by October 31 after all.

Google search results for retatrutide

October 23, 2023: Even drugs in development are at risk for counterfeiting

October 23, 2023

Sketchy online vendors are selling “retatrutide” even though it’s still in clinical trials. A man who sold U.S. pharmacies secondhand prescription medicines was sentenced. Domestic and international stories about fake drugs.

a comparison of real and fake Ozempic pens sold in Germany.

October 16, 2023: More fake Ozempic appears in the EU

October 16, 2023

Almost 200 packages of fake Ozempic traveled from Austria to the U.K. via Germany. An 11th man was sentenced in a $52mm cough medicine counterfeiting scheme. Europol reports the seizure of medical products. Additional news about pill presses in Mexico and the U.S.

Label for a barrel of sodium chlorite powder with warning labels advising the product was toxic.

October 9, 2023: Florida conmen who sold industrial bleach as a COVID cure sentenced to federal prison

October 9, 2023

The leaders of the “Genesis II Church of Health and Healing” received a cumulative 34 years in prison. A NYC pharmacist pleaded guilty to fraud and money laundering after selling black market HIV drugs. Pill press operations busted in NYC and Rhode Island.

October 2, 2023: After deaths overseas, the FDA is working to protect Americans from toxic cough syrup.

October 2, 2023

The FDA is cracking down on lax safety testing of raw drug ingredients. Major players in HIV drug and cough syrup counterfeiting schemes pleaded guilty in federal court.

Counterfeit Avastin in Pakistan blinded over 70 retinopathy patients.

CBP at JFK Airport intercepted 14 pairs of pill press dies. Additional news about illicit pill presses in five states.

PSM Executive Director to Speak at USPTO Roundtable on Counterfeits

September 20, 2023

Shabbir Imber Safdar, executive director of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, will participate in the upcoming United States Patent and Trademark Office Roundtable: Future strategies in anti-counterfeiting and anti-piracy.

September 18, 2023: USFDA concerned that eight companies, including two pharmacies, are illegally marketing unapproved ophthalmic drug products

September 18, 2023

USFDA is concerned that eight companies, including two pharmacies, are illegally marketing unapproved ophthalmic drug products that pose a heightened risk to users. Counterfeit pills make the DHS’ threat assessment list for 2024.

PSM and ADAP Advocacy call for more awareness about counterfeit medicines

September 15, 2023

Data recently shared in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report highlights a growing problem: Counterfeit pill availability is rising in the drug supply chain, but also the illicit drug market.

Teach Your Community With These Conference Slides

September 13, 2023

Running slides between conference sessions and during breaks is a great way to fit in a little extra information. Use these slides to teach your community about counterfeit medicines in the U.S.

September 11, 2023: Global fake medicine trade’s scope revealed by incidents in U.K., India, Turkey and elsewhere

September 11, 2023

A U.K. couple was sentenced for selling 65 different brands of unapproved medicines. Counterfeit therapeutic medicines reported in India, Turkey and Pakistan. News about counterfeit pills made of dangerous substances in 13 states

narcan nasal spray

September 5, 2023: U.S. fake pill deaths more than doubled from July 2019 to December 2021

September 5, 2023

CDC data shows an alarming climb in pill deaths, particularly in western states. Narcan, which reverses opioid overdoses, is now available over-the-counter. Fake medicine seized in Las Vegas. News involving counterfeit pills in 17 states.

Map of Florida with a pill bottle displaying a maple leaf. As it peels away, the label shows a poison symbol

August 28, 2023: Florida officials asked to address “deficiencies” in their Canadian drug importation proposal

August 28, 2023

The FDA asked Florida to clarify its drug importation plan. More contaminated eye drops in the U.S. Fake medicine, including a cancer treatment, in Mexico. U.S. patients treated with illegally imported Botox and lip filler. News about counterfeit pills made with fentanyl in 18 states.

PSM submits comment on USPTO anti-counterfeiting initiative

August 23, 2023

On August 3, the Partnership for Safe Medicines submitted comment on the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s Future Strategies in Anticounterfeiting and Antipiracy.

CDC branded poster that says Fentanyl is commonly mixed with other drugs and made into pills.

August 21, 2023: National Fentanyl Prevention and Awareness Day 2023; an FDA warning about toxic supplements.

August 21, 2023

Poisonous “Nuez de la India” made with yellow oleander. More about black market weight loss medicine. Federal authorities arrested a fugitive for selling fake COVID preventatives. News about counterfeit pills in 24 states.

FDA should grant pharmacists access to drug pedigrees until full DSCSA launch

August 18, 2023

On August 16, 2023 Executive Director Shabbir Safdar asked senior FDA officials to require wholesalers to provide pharmacists with complete transaction logs for every medicine they dispense until the track-and-trace system is fully online.

Lavender injection pen labelled liragluted

August 14, 2023: Woman reports temporary paralysis from a fake weight loss injection.

August 15, 2023

Hospitals are being impacted by drug shortages. More U.S. sanctions against Sinaloa Cartel members. Uzbeki courts pursue the fake cough syrup supply chain. News about counterfeit pills in 15 states.

August 7, 2023: Federal Judge Awards $18 Million in Fake Surgical Tape Case

August 7, 2023

A lawsuit over fake Surgicel hemostat concluded. New research spotlights fraud in sports supplements. A recently jailed cough syrup counterfeiter also settled allegations of violating the Controlled Substances Act. Fake medicines reported in Canada, Egypt, India, and Mexico.

July 31, 2023: Men sentenced for selling Americans fentanyl and fentanyl pills from a Canadian prison

July 31, 2023

Federal judges sentenced two men who ran a fentanyl ring from a Canadian prison, a pharmaceutical exec who trafficked fake cough syrup, and a black market drug trafficker. Additional stories about counterfeit pills and related casualties in 21 states.

July 24, 2023: Another “Operation Denial” defendant sentenced. Counterfeit scorpion antivenom warning issued in Mexico.

July 24, 2023

Pill presses prohibited in Washington state. WHO issued an alert about counterfeit cough syrup. Jury convicted four in Florida who peddled bogus COVID-19 cure. Prosecutions in 11 states involved the trafficking of counterfeit pills and related deaths.

July 17, 2023: The Cooper Davis Act heads out of committee

July 17, 2023

Legislation moves forward in the Senate for social media platforms to report dealers to the DEA. A Shanghai resident sentenced for selling counterfeit cat medicine. Missouri resident sentenced for injecting clients with non-FDA-approved Botox and fillers, hurting multiple people. Stories of counterfeit pills in 17 states.

A photo of a boy--Cooper Davis--smiling while a dog nuzzles him with a black caption that reads Forever 16 and a title - Senate Tackles Online Drug Dealers

Cooper Davis Act (S.1080) passes out of Senate Judiciary committee, headed to Senate floor

July 16, 2023

S.1080, which requires big tech platforms to report drug dealers they discover to the DEA, passed out of the Judiciary committee and is headed to the Senate floor.

July 10, 2023: Federal operation seized unapproved medicines and medical devices at international mail facilities

July 10, 2023

Global coalition launched to combat synthetic drugs. One-third of packages examined in Operation Broader Sword contained unapproved medicines, medical devices, or precursor chemicals. Prosecutions in seven states involved the trafficking of fentanyl pills and related deaths.

July 5, 2023: Federal authorities move on black market HIV drug sales

July 5, 2023

The FDA warned Safe Chain Solutions for trading with unlicensed sellers. Other black market HIV drug cases are moving forward. The CDC reported a spike in fentanyl/xylazine deaths. Authorities seized a pill press, smuggled codeine and millions of counterfeit pills made of fentanyl. Prosecutions involved the trafficking of and deaths related to fentanyl pills in 10 states.

PSM board president, pharmacist explains why foreign drug importation can’t deliver.

July 5, 2023

In this editorial, which appeared in the Corpus Christi Caller on June 30, 2023, Doctor of Pharmacy Kenneth McCall shares his negative experience with imported medicines.

FDA Alert: Suprimo Imports Warned by FDA After Reports of Illness and Death Due to Prescription Drug Ingredients in Their Dietary Supplements.

June 27, 2023

“On April 20, 2022, FDA warned consumers not to purchase or use “Artri Ajo King” as FDA has received adverse event reports, including of liver toxicity and death, associated with the use of “Artri Ajo King” and similarly named products. While the Agency has not sampled and tested this product from your inventory to date, be advised of our serious concern about the safety of these products and that it is your legal responsibility under federal law to ensure this product does not contain any undeclared and potentially harmful ingredients.”

pictures of real and fake Ozempic pen

June 26, 2023: Fake Ozempic pen in U.S. pharmacy actually contained insulin, says Novo Nordisk

June 26, 2023

Fake Ozempic has been found in the U.S. The leader of an HIV drug counterfeiting ring got 15 years. The Justice Department indicted Chinese companies and arrested two executives who allegedly sold fentanyl precursors into the U.S. Tainted cough syrup reached at least 12 countries. Stories about counterfeit pills in 20 states.

Counterfeit and compounded injected diabetes and obesity treatments — twin threats to American patients

June 21, 2023

On June 16, 2023 Novo Nordisk warned that a fake version of the diabetes drug Ozempic had been found in the U.S. The injection pen, which contained insulin instead of semaglutide, was reportedly purchased at a retail pharmacy. It’s one of a flurry of incidents involving Ozempic and its sister drugs.

red and blue ads for commonly prescription drugs displayed at a Mexican pharmacy

June 20, 2023: L.A. Times reporters found counterfeit pills in pharmacies all across Mexico, not just at the border

June 20, 2023

More than 50% of the pills investigators bought in Mexican pharmacies were fake–and many contained illicit drugs. COFEPRIS warned about fake immunosuppressants and anemia drugs. A drug dealer who targeted Carrollton, Texas teens pleaded guilty. More news about pills seizures and prosecutions in 20 states.

the first page of the sentencing memo in USA v Lindsay Marie Clark and Lindsay Clark MD Medical Corporation

The best sentencing memo we’ve ever seen

June 14, 2023

When medical licensing boards take up cases of misconduct, they face some real challenges because criminal cases resolved without trials may leave almost no public evidence. Documenting evidence of wrongdoing in sentencing memorandums helps licensing boards, and also patient victims, to see the full scope of a case.

June 12, 2023: FDA reports show the agency working hard to secure our drug supply.

June 12, 2023

The FDA increased facility inspections 44% in 2022 and prevented 222 drug shortages. Men in Colorado and Virginia were sentenced for distributing unapproved prescription drugs. News about drug seizures and prosecutions trafficking counterfeit pills in 22 states.

Video thumbnail: Doctor Dealt Deadly Diet Pills

June 5, 2023: NJ Doctor who Sold an Industrial Chemical as a Weight Loss Drug Sentenced.

June 5, 2023

William Merlino, whose weight loss products killed a U.K. man, will serve almost 3 years in prison. The U.S. imposed sanctions on pill press makers in China and New Mexico. Regulators found more fake semaglutide—this time in Australia. Prosecutions and pill and pill press seizures in 24 states.

map of the US in pink, with a handful of states in cream

May 30, 2023: North Carolina raises penalties for making counterfeit controlled pills.

May 30, 2023

North Carolina made using a pill press to make counterfeit controlled pills a felony. Black market and fake medicines were reported in Canada and Mexico. More news involved counterfeit or illegally imported pills in 22 states.

Map of Texas with prescription pill bottle to the left. The bottle a label with a maple leaf that's peeling away to reveal a skull and crossbones.

Texas State Senate Passes Dangerous Foreign Drug Importation Program

May 23, 2023

With the passage of HB 25 in the Texas State Senate and Governor Abbott’s impending signature, Texas is poised to become the seventh state in the U.S. to attempt to create a program to import medicine from Canada. This policy has failed in six other states, cost taxpayers millions of dollars, and drawn opposition from the Canadian government.

May 22, 2023: Dangerous Eye Drops – FDA Warns about Unapproved Amniotic Fluid Eye Drops and Health Canada Seizes Unapproved Eye Drops

May 22, 2023

Grieving families continue to mourn the ones they lost to dubious and counterfeit medicine. Three men were convicted of manufacturing and selling counterfeit pills in the U.K. Additional news involving counterfeit pills made with fentanyl in twenty states.

A woman in a peach colored sweater talking. In front of her stands a picture of a young teenager labeled Alexander Neville, May 4, 2006 -June 23, 2020

May 15, 2023: Families rallied outside Snap HQ to demand accountability for fatal Snapchat pill sales.

May 15, 2023

Families across the country observed Fentanyl Awareness Day. Hidden pharmaceuticals in arthritis “supplements.” Fake medicine in Ireland, India and Australia. Additional news involved counterfeit pills made with fentanyl in 17 states.

FDA Alert: Three Dietary Supplement Consumer Warnings, All Contain Prescription APIs

May 10, 2023

The FDA has issued consumer warnings on three different dietary supplement sold as herbal compounds intended to treat joint pain, rheumatoid arthritis, gout, and liver detoxification. Each product contains undeclared prescription drug ingredients.

Graph showing distribution of fentanyl trafficking links in investigation

May 7, 2023: Operations Last Mile and SpecTor launch cases against fake pill sellers

May 8, 2023

Federal agencies report the results of Operations Last Mile and SpecTor. Fake medicines in Mexico, Nigeria and the Philippines. Pill press seizures in Texas and West Virginia. News involving counterfeit fentanyl or meth pills in 19 states.

FDA Alert: Dietary Supplement Recalled Due to Presence of Prescription Drug Ingredients

May 2, 2023

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE – April 26, 2023– West Sacramento, CA, Gear Isle is voluntarily recalling the following products listed in the table below to the consumer level. FDA analysis has found the products to be tainted with prescription drug ingredients.

FDA Alert: Dietary Supplement For Vision Care Recalled Due to Unapproved and Dangerous Ingredients

May 2, 2023

TruVision Health LLC is recalling the dietary supplement products listed below because they contain the unapproved dietary ingredients hordenine and/or octodrine/DMHA (1,5-Dimethylhexylamine).

A Facebook post offering Saxenda for sale.

May 1, 2023: British Columbia enacts regulations to stop Ozempic exports

May 1, 2023

Canada resists the U.S. pilfering its drug supply. Officials warn about semaglutide sales on social media, a dangerous appetite supplement and black market cosmetic injectables. A California doctor will pay over a million for treating patients with illegally purchased drugs. More reports of tainted cough syrup, and news about fake pills made of fentanyl and other drugs in 20 states.

What Doctors Need to Know About the Secure Drug Supply Chain

April 28, 2023

A new infographic created by the Partnership for Safe Medicines and the American Medical Women’s Association educates healthcare professionals on the importance of only sourcing drugs from within the secure U.S. drug supply chain…

image of a laminated paper with a list of prescription drugs

April 24, 2023: Border pharmacies have been selling counterfeits that kill Americans since 2017, says the L.A. Times

April 25, 2023

This week: A California man is among those killed by counterfeit pills at Mexican pharmacies. A 6th lawsuit was filed over pill dealers on Snapchat. Fake cancer treatments reported in the UAE, Kyrgyzstan and India. A new counterfeit drug bust in the U.K. Additional news involving counterfeit painkillers and fake Adderall in over 20 states.

A medicine bottle with a syringe of pink medicine next to it.

April 18, 2023: Buy safe kids’ medicine, even during shortages

April 18, 2023

Amoxicillin shortages underscore the need to buy from licensed U.S. pharmacies. The Justice Department indicted Sinaloa cartel members. Xylazine mixed with fentanyl is an emergent threat. Another Canadian is being tried for pill trafficking. News about prosecutions, seizures and deaths relating to counterfeit prescription pills in 24 states.

April 10, 2023: Canadian regulators pull a doctor’s license to protect their medical supply

April 11, 2023

A Canadian doctor working in the U.S. will not be allowed to prescribe Canadian drugs. Washington legislators passed a law to regulate misuse of pill presses. Fake Xanax cases conclude in Wisconsin and Virginia. Crackdown on drug counterfeits in India. Mexican regulators warned about more fake drugs. News involving counterfeit pills in 23 states and the U.K..

narcan nasal spray

April 3, 2023: FDA approves over-the-counter Narcan sales

April 3, 2023

The FDA approved over-the-counter Narcan. Congress is crafting legislation to regulate xylazine. A police union executive allegedly imported a fentanyl analogue and prescription pills containing controlled substances. Prosecutions, pill seizures and deaths in 16 U.S. states.

PSM Response To The Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act (PAHPA) Request For Information

March 29, 2023

PSM provided our thoughts to the US Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee when they requested input on the authorization of the Pandemic All Hazards Preparedness Act.

March 27, 2023: DEA Warns Americans About Xylazine

March 28, 2023

The DEA warned about a sharp increase in the trafficking of fentanyl mixed with xylazine. The U.S. FDA warned to a supplement manufacturer and a website selling ivermectin to stop selling unapproved drugs. A Montana man who hid his pill press operation under a haystack has been sentenced to 16 years in prison. More news in 15 U.S. states.

Take action to get drug sellers off social media: Support the Cooper Davis Act

March 28, 2023

The “Cooper Davis Act” would require social media platforms to report users of social media found to be selling controlled substances on their platforms to the Drug Enforcement Administration.

Map of Texas with prescription pill bottle to the left. The bottle a label with a maple leaf that's peeling away to reveal a skull and crossbones.

PSM analysis of Texas legislation HB 25, foreign drug importation

March 22, 2023

H.B. 25 would require Texas’ Health and Human Services Commission to design a program for bulk importing prescription medicines under 21 USC 384 of the U.S. Food, Drug, and Cosmetics Act, more commonly known as a Section 804 State Importation Program (SIP). Below, we outline the many reasons this proposal is unsafe and unworkable.

Ad for a pill press

March 20, 2023: Spanberger and Kustoff reintroduce the CAST Act

March 20, 2023

Federal legislators reintroduced the CAST Act, which would strengthen penalties for using pill presses to make fake medicines. Health Canada warned parents not to buy unapproved cough syrups advertised on Facebook. Mexican soldiers seized almost two million fentanyl pills in Tijuana. News about prosecutions, pill seizures and deaths in 21 U.S. states.

FDA Alert: Nano Silver Dietary Supplement Triggers Recall

March 14, 2023

This recall has been initiated because the Product is labeled as a dietary supplement that, in the opinion of the government, makes unsubstantiated health claims that the product will prevent, treat, or cure COVID-19.

March 13, 2023: Medical device company had doctors implant fake parts into pain patients solely for profit, says DOJ

March 13, 2023

A company is facing charges for medical device fraud. Mexican regulators shut down pharmacies for selling fake prescription pills made with fentanyl, something that has been happening since at least 2019. International news about contaminated cough syrup, and about prosecutions involving counterfeit pills and fake pill seizures in 20 U.S. states.

Two women and a man in a black cowboy hat are seated at a table with a white tablecloth emblazoned with PSM's logo. One of the woman is holding up a news paper.

Watch PSM’s Briefing for the 118th Congress, Washington D.C., February 28, 2023

March 8, 2023

On Tuesday, February 28, 2023, the Partnership for Safe Medicines convened pharmacists, law enforcement, policy experts and family advocates to educate legislators about key issues in the fight against counterfeit medicines. Learn more and watch the briefing here.

two baggies of white pills on a blue surface

March 6, 2023: Oregon man sentenced for three years of selling steroids and fake pills on Facebook

March 7, 2023

PSM’s executive director spoke at Senator Rick Scott’s roundtable. The US FDA acted to restrict the illicit shipment of xylazine. Investigators have traced the deaths of 84 children in Gambia and Uzbekistan to counterfeit cough syrup. 57 people in three states were charged with selling fentanyl pills and other drugs and a doctor was sentenced for faking a stem cell treatment. Additional news about fake pills in 30 states.

A woman and a man sitting at a table with a picture of a teenager between them

PSM’s Shabbir Safdar participates in DC roundtable about the fentanyl crisis

March 1, 2023

Executive Director Shabbir Safdar urged Congress to demand accountability from social media platforms at Senator Scott’s roundtable discussion about the fentanyl crisis.

A bald, besuited man with a striped tie at a podium with a sign that reads The Partnership for Safe Medicines, The 118th Congress Counterfeit Drug Policy Briefing. One of his hands is outstretched.

February 28, 2023: Senator Rick Scott speaks at PSM congressional briefing

February 28, 2023

PSM hosted a congressional briefing keynoted by Senator Rick Scott. The U.S. imposed sanctions against alleged suppliers of precursor chemicals to the Sinaloa Cartel. Deaths, prosecutions and seizures related to fake painkillers, Xanax and Adderall in 21 states. Counterfeit medicine stories in India and Algeria.

screenshot of search box from safe.pharmacy website. Text: Purchase medication from legitimate sites. Verify Before You Buy.

February 21, 2023: FDA urges U.S. residents to buy all prescription medicines from U.S. licensed pharmacies.

February 21, 2023

The FDA reminded U.S. residents that it doesn’t regulate medicine made for other countries. CBP seized tramadol and other prescription drugs. Mexico shut down a fentanyl pill lab, and arrested a man who allegedly controls the cartels’ fake pill trade. Prescription pills made with fentanyl in 19 states.

Counterfeit Adderall Found in Connecticut

February 17, 2023

Connecticut is the 28th state in which PSM has documented the finding of counterfeit Adderall pills…

FDA Alert: Candy Company Recalls Dietary Supplement Containing Prescription Ingredient

February 14, 2023

Risk Statement: PrimeZen Black 6000 capsules containing sildenafil and tadalafil may interact with nitrates found in some prescription drugs (such as nitroglycerin) and may cause a significant drop in blood pressure that may be life threatening. People with diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, or heart disease often take nitrates.

February 13, 2023: PSM’s congressional briefing in Washington DC is on 2/28. Register here.

February 13, 2023

Register for PSM’s upcoming congressional briefing in Washington DC. The WHO says contaminated infant cough syrups have killed 300 children. News of deaths, seizures and prosecutions related to fake prescription pills in 20 states and the nation’s capital.

Image of a pharmacy in Nogales, Mexico from 2004

February 6, 2023: Researchers find Mexican border pharmacies selling Americans fentanyl pills.

February 6, 2023

This week: Investigators found pharmacies selling fentanyl and meth pills disguised as real medicine. A grand jury indicted “healing magnet” sellers. Regulators addressed fake Mpox treatments and a questionable pharmacy. CBP seized tramadol. More families joined a lawsuit against Snapchat. Additional news involving fake pills in17 states.

vaccine cards in a mailing envelope

January 30, 2023: Utah plastic surgeon faked COVID vaccines and vaccine cards, says DOJ

January 30, 2023

A Salt Lake City physician allegedly faked almost 2,000 COVID-19 cards and gave fake injections, too. The House Energy and Commerce Committee held a roundtable about Snapchat drug dealers. Dozens more stories about counterfeit pills made of fentanyl and other dangerous substances in Canada, Wales, and 24 U.S. states.

A smashed box of pills with a blister pack. it's labeled Top Dol,” an Indian formulation of the Schedule IV opioid, tramadol.

January 23, 2023: Fake pharmacy operator gets 7 years and a $100,000 fine

January 23, 2023

Updates to cases involving a fake pharmacy that imported and sold controlled medicines to U.S. patients, a man who sold used and counterfeit cosmetic surgery devices, and a couple that sold unapproved substances as smart drugs. Additional news involving counterfeit pills made of fentanyl in 17 states.

Partnership for Safe Medicines statement in response to the New York State Senate’s passage of Senate Bill S604

January 23, 2023

Shabbir Imber Safdar, Executive Director of the Partnership for Safe Medicines, released the following statement in response to the New York State Senate’s passage of Senate Bill S604, which would create a wholesale prescription drug importation program in New York.

January 16, 2023: Eight more families sue Snapchat over online pill deals.

January 18, 2023

More families sue Snapchat. A Scottish man was sentenced for a high-volume fake Valium scheme. Police in Mumbai are investigating a death related to a fake iron injection. Prosecutions, deaths and seizures related to counterfeit pills made with fentanyl in 18 states and Washington, D.C.

DEA’s 2021 Fentanyl Profiling Program Report

January 10, 2023

The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration released its 2021 Fentanyl Profiling Program report examining trends in how and where the drug is being found. Here are some facts from the report about how fentanyl is being found in counterfeit pills.

January 9, 2023: New Warning Letter Is A Good Reminder To Use Licensed Pharmacies.

January 9, 2023

The FDA issued a warning to a rogue pharmacy website. The DEA and Discovery released educational resources for school children. News related to counterfeit pills made with fentanyl and other drugs in 16 states.

January 6, 2023: Fake pills involved in 25% of teen drug deaths since 2019, says CDC.

January 5, 2023

This week: A frightening increase in teen drug deaths; prosecutions of criminals selling fake medical masks and illegally imported Bulgarian drugs; fake medicine in Mexico, the EU, Canada, and seven more countries; substantial prosecutions, seizures and pill deaths in 28 states.

Fake movie poster: Bad Meds, The story of a fake.

ASOP, NABP and LA Sheriff launch a campaign with Danny Trejo: Bad Meds Kill Real People

December 15, 2022

December 14, 2022 saw the launch of a new public health initiative about counterfeit medicines, fronted by cult action star Danny Trejo, who appears in a PSA directing Americans to “verify before you buy” at Safe.Pharmacy.

map of colorado with pill bottle displaying a maple leaf label. The label peels back to show a poison symbol

Colorado’s Canadian drug importation plan won’t be safe and also won’t save money

December 14, 2022

Colorado submitted its application to the FDA to import medicine from Canada on December 5. Like other Canadian importation plans, this one isn’t safe and it’s unlikely to save money.

December 12, 2022: Fraudster Sentenced For Selling Pesticides As COVID Prevention

December 12, 2022

Federal courts sentenced a New Jersey man for selling fake coronavirus prevention products, and indicted a Florida woman who allegedly imported and sold unapproved Botox. A new database shows non-fatal opioid overdoses across the country. Additional stories about fake medicine in India and Nigeria and counterfeit pills made with fentanyl in 16 states and Canada.

screenshot of the doctor's website

A Bay Area Doctor Imported Black Market Drugs, But She Told Her Patients They Were Genuine Botox And Juvederm

December 8, 2022

On November 22, 2022, San Francisco doctor Lindsay Clark pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor for receiving non-FDA approved drugs and devices. She injected her patients with these black market drugs, and she made a million dollars doing it.

December 5, 2022: Be wary. Drug shortages can drive counterfeit drug crime

December 5, 2022

It’s very important to verify that your pharmacy is state-licensed. A California doctor just pleaded guilty to illegally importing medicines; another is going to prison for fake COVID treatments. Fake pill news in 15 states and Mexico.

Patients, protect yourselves. You are the last line of defense.

November 30, 2022

December 1st is World AIDS Day. If you are HIV positive, be aware that fake HIV treatments that have been found in the U.S. Look here for more information, and to download the infographic on medicine safety we created with help from The ADAP Advocacy Association.

image of Florida governor with text: Over $24 million spent, no medicine provided to patients"

Why has Florida paid 27 million dollars for an empty warehouse?

November 29, 2022

When Governor Ron DeSantis signed HB19 into law in June 2019, he said that Florida was leading “the way toward affordable prescription drugs,” but over the past three years not a single person has received even one pill imported from Canada, and the state has spent millions.

blue pills embossed with M30 spilling out of a plastic bag

November 28, 2022: DEA Labs show 6 out of 10 fentanyl pills now contain a deadly dose

November 28, 2022

Six out of ten fentanyl pills contain a lethal dose. The FDA sends warning letters for violations of the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. A fake anesthesia ring was shut down in Pakistan. 23 more stories include news about pressed pills in 13 states.

white bags and cardboard boxes piled haphazardly in a storage room

November 21, 2022: India busts counterfeiting operation with $1m in fake cancer drugs.

November 21, 2022

Police in India busted a large scale fake cancer drug operation; additional counterfeit news in England, Austria and Mexico. CBP in Ohio reported seizing non-FDA approved cosmetic injectables. Seizures, prosecutions and deaths involving counterfeit pills in 18 U.S. states.

Image of Autumn Leaves with title: Stay Away From Fake Pills This Holiday

Don’t buy pills; seek safer ways to deal with stress

November 16, 2022

Soothing stress with prescription pills from online sellers can deadly; look here for safer strategies.

fragmented pill that contains xylazine

November 14, 2022: The FDA warns about xylazine, a drug found in fake pills in 9 states.

November 14, 2022

The FDA warned healthcare providers about xylazine in illicit drugs. Fake prescription pills continued to flood the U.S., with reports of more than 135,000 fentanyl pills seized, four guilty pleas, six sentencings, and related news in 18 states. Counterfeit medicine incidents were reported in Indonesia and India.

November 7, 2022: Washington “Fetty Bros” get decades in prison

November 7, 2022

Three men were sentenced for a fentanyl-pill operation based in Washington state. 19 Yemeni children are dead as a result of smuggled leukemia medicine. Additional news about pressed pills in Canada, the U.K., 13 U.S. states, and one U.S. territory.

October 31, 2022: Massachusetts has a fake pill problem, and it’s not alone

October 31, 2022

The FDA warned a supplement company to stop selling fake COVID treatments. A Puerto Rican woman was fined for injecting spa clients with liquid silicone. Large counterfeit pill trafficking rings were busted in Massachusetts and Washington state and news about fake pills in 16 additional states. 

Stop Pills that Kill – Legislation to Combat the Fentanyl Crisis

October 27, 2022

With seizures of counterfeit prescription pills made with fentanyl and other dangerous substances up 500% since 2019, a bipartisan group of Senators and Representatives have introduced S. 4151/H.R. 8175, the Stop Pills That Kill Act, to help law enforcement stop the deadly flow of these pills into our communities.

October 24, 2022: Suspending domain names of fake pharmacy websites can protect patients, says NABP

October 24, 2022

The NABP’s new report explores locking and suspending websites as a tool to stop fake medicines. Tainted children’s medicine is also in Indonesia. Mexican authorities find more counterfeit drugs. Britain sentences a wholesaler who sold stolen treatments. Deaths, prosecutions and hundreds of thousands of fake prescription pills in 19 states

Litigation against Snapchat over fentanyl pill dealers: An overview

October 18, 2022

Watch this page for updates about litigation that families of victims filed in October 2022.

October 17, 2022: Bereaved Families Sue Snapchat Over Pill Dealers

October 17, 2022

Families sue Snapchat for facilitating the sale of fake pills. Authorities in Michigan charge two men with importing controlled medicines. The LA County Sheriff’s Department seized thousands of illicit pharmaceuticals. Prosecutions, seizures and deaths related to counterfeit prescription pills in 16 states.

FDA Class 1 Recall: Imported, Non-FDA Approved COVID-19 Tests

October 12, 2022

Use of these tests may cause serious adverse health consequences or death. There is also a risk of injury if users follow any labeling instructions directing self-collection of nasopharyngeal or oropharyngeal samples.

stacked boxes and blisterpacks of tapentadol

October 11, 2022: Indian national pleads guilty to smuggling controlled medicines to sell to U.S. residents without prescriptions

October 11, 2022

An Indian man admits to selling Americans smuggled, controlled medicines prescription-free. The U.S. Adderall shortage continues. Dangerous counterfeit medicines were found in Gambia, Mexico and Pakistan. Captagon being produced in Syria. News about counterfeit pills in 14 states and the District of Columbia.

October 3, 2022: Lawsuit Over Fake HIV Drugs Expands To 142 Defendants

October 3, 2022

A lawsuit over fake HIV drugs continues to expand. Syracuse University warned students about fake COVID teats. The DEA seized over ten million fentanyl pills in three months. Congress introduced a bill that would shift COVID-19 funds to fentanyl education and prevention in schools. Counterfeit pills stories in 16 states.

FDA Alert: Dietary Supplement Recalled Due to Prescription Drug Ingredients

September 29, 2022

Proper Trade LLC/My Stellar Lifestyle was notified by Amazon that laboratory analysis has found the product to be tainted with tadalafil, an ingredient in FDA approved products for treatment of male erectile dysfunction in the family of drugs known as phosphodiesterase (PDE-5) inhibitors.

September 26, 2022: Advocates release Best Practices to Rid Social Media of Drug Trafficking

September 26, 2022

Best Practices to Rid Social Media of Drug Trafficking will be released tomorrow at 10am Pacific. Sign up to watch in this post.

Xylazine in the illicit drug supply. Over 2.4 million counterfeit pills made with fentanyl seized across the country. Another 24 stories in 17 states.

PSM Supports Parent-led Effort to Rid Social Media of Drug Trafficking

September 26, 2022

A parent-led commission will release recommendations for social media companies to curb drug dealers on their platforms on September 27th at 1pm Eastern / 10am Pacific.

Register for the launch event.

September 19, 2022: With reports of Adderall shortages, Americans should be wary of counterfeits

September 19, 2022

Fake versions of Adderall are surging; safety advocates urge patients to only buy medicines from licensed U.S. pharmacies. Gambia investigates the deaths of dozens of children potentially poisoned by fake paracetamol syrup. U.S. senators focus on the role of social media platforms in teen counterfeit pill deaths. Counterfeit pill events in 17 states.

Older man in dark suit with crossed arms

The Hollow Promise of Drug Importation Proposals

September 14, 2022

Tom Kubic—an FBI veteran, former president and CEO of the Pharmaceutical Security Institute, and president of PSM’s governing board—has the experience to know that the risks of drug importation are “unacceptably high” and the potential rewards are “virtually nil.”

colorful images of pills sold on snapchat

September 12, 2022: Americans don’t know buying medicine on social media is dangerous.

September 13, 2022

A survey shows over half of Americans who buy their meds online have purchased prescription opioids on social media. Fake medicines in Mexico, Canada, the Philippines and India. Counterfeit pill news in 14 states, and a sharp increase in fentanyl seizures in Tijuana, Mexico.

September 6, 2022: Criminals Still Transhipping Counterfeits into the U.S.

September 7, 2022

This week: FDA initiatives to stop illicit medical products. The sentencing of a Missouri doctor who illegally imported arthritis meds and two people who sold performance enhancing drugs as supplements. Stories about counterfeit pills in Canada, Saudi Arabia and ten U.S. states.

pharmacy website selling white and red pills

August 29, 2022: FDA warns “Tramadol US” to stop selling controlled, unapproved drugs to U.S. residents

August 29, 2022

This week: The FDA warns a fake pharmacy to stop selling unapproved drugs to U.S. residents; an update on the Texan cough syrup ring we covered last year; regulators overseas warn about fake cosmetic injectables; and 27 more stories about counterfeit pills made with fentanyl.