Over £1.1 million worth of illicit medicines, comprising 848,376 tablets, have been successfully seized in Northern Ireland as part of Operation Pangea XVII, a major international enforcement initiative.

This significant haul was the result of a five-month crackdown, conducted between 16 December 2024 and 16 May 2025, during which 25 searches were carried out across the region, leading to 15 individuals being interviewed in police custody.

The comprehensive results of this operation, which aimed to remove dangerous unlicenced medicines from circulation, were announced today by Justice Minister Naomi Long, Health Minister Mike Nesbitt, and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI). These drugs, purchased from unregulated online sites, pose severe health risks due to unknown quality, composition, and manufacturing standards.

Operation Pangea XVII is an annual, Interpol-led campaign designed to target the online supply of illicit medicines, including counterfeit drugs and those diverted from legitimate supply chains. This illegal trade represents a substantial income source for organised crime groups, funding further criminal activities. Northern Ireland actively participated alongside multiple countries worldwide, with local efforts involving close partnership working between various law enforcement agencies and government departments under the umbrella of the Organised Crime Task Force (OCTF).

Among the substances recovered during the operation were Pregabalin, Zopiclone, Diazepam, steroids, as well as products for erectile dysfunction, Botox, and weight loss.

Justice Minister Naomi Long commended the collaborative effort: "Criminal gangs have no respect for borders, the victims they create or the communities they destroy – just lining their pockets for their own selfish gain. The success of this operation shows the importance of collaborative working. By collectively using all the resources at our disposal we can ensure real tangible progress towards a safe society for all." Health Minister Mike Nesbitt underlined the public health threat: "The illicit medicines recovered during Operation Pangea were destined for Northern Ireland, leaving none of our communities safe from the dangers presented by drugs like these. Drugs purchased from unregulated sites are not prescribed by a healthcare practitioner, may not have been subject to the normal controls on manufacture and may not be of a suitable quality or be of the nature described. My Department’s Medicines Regulatory Group works proactively all year round with its key partners, including Police and Border Force to highlight and curtail this activity when possible and I am grateful for their ongoing commitment."

Assistant Chief Constable Davy Beck of the PSNI issued a strong warning to those involved in the supply chain: "The destruction and devastation which illicit pharmaceuticals cause in our communities, must not be underestimated and the sustained action from the Organised Task Force and partners in tackling this criminality has undoubtedly reduced inevitable harm to people in Northern Ireland. I want to send a very clear message to those involved in the supply of counterfeit prescription drugs that we will do everything in our power to disrupt their activities as part of our sustained drive against drugs and criminality."

From UK Border Force, Minister for Migration and Citizenship, Seema Malhotra, highlighted the agency’s critical role in intercepting these dangerous goods: "Border Force officers work tirelessly to protect the UK's borders from dangerous and illicit goods. Border Force has played a crucial role in Operation Pangea, preventing hundreds of thousands of potentially harmful counterfeit medicines from reaching communities across Northern Ireland. This illegal trade not only funds organised crime but puts the health and wellbeing of the public at serious risk. Border Force remains committed to maintaining secure borders and keeping our streets safe. We will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to disrupt criminal networks that profit from these dangerous activities."