Interpol reveals the most seized drug during global crackdown – and it won’t get you high
- Erectile dysfunction medications are the most commonly seized drugs worldwide
- Interpol confirmed the results on their website after Operation Pangea XVI
- 22% of the seized drugs were used to treat erectile dysfunction
The International Criminal Police Organization (Interpol) has revealed the most seized drug in the world – and it’s not marijuana or cocaine.
The organization shared Tuesday that erectile dysfunction drugs take the top spot as the most commonly seized drug.
According to Interpol, 22% of the drugs seized during Operation Pangea XVI in 89 countries were used to treat erectile dysfunction.
Operation Pangea XVI began on October 3 and was completed on October 10.
The week-long investigation has been conducted by Interpol every year since 2008.
Police, customs, regulators and private sector companies are working together to dismantle the illegal networks behind these crimes.
Erectile dysfunction drugs were declared the most commonly seized drugs following the completion of Operation Pangea XVI
Operation Pangea is an annual investigation launched by Interpol in 2008. Operation Pangea XVI began on October 3 and ended on October 10.
Excluding erection medications, officers concluded that 19% of the drugs seized were antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and stimulants
Interpol found that antidepressants, anti-anxiety drugs and stimulants made up 19% of the drugs seized, followed by sex hormones and gastrointestinal drugs at 12%.
Agents also discovered and seized 9,000 bottles of suspected counterfeit cough syrup in Mozambique.
Australian authorities also eventually took possession of 11,000 irregular COVID-19 test kits.
Customs officials have seized 2,500 prescription painkillers hidden in cereal boxes from a passenger flying from Bangladesh, and 13,000 counterfeit and/or expired pain medications at a bus depot between Peru and Ecuador.
“Counterfeit medicines and the misuse of controlled medicines pose a significant threat to public safety around the world,” said Jürgen Stock, Secretary General of Interpol via Interpol News and Events.
‘Operation Pangea
Customs officials have seized 13,000 counterfeit and/or expired pain medications at a bus depot between Peru and Ecuador.
Agents have seized 9,000 bottles of suspected counterfeit cough syrup in Mozambique.
Australian authorities have seized 11,000 irregular COVID-19 test kits
Agents have seized more than $7 million worth of drugs and 325 new investigations have been opened since the end of the operation.
The results of the operation showed that officers seized more than $7 million worth of drugs, and 325 new investigations have been opened since the end of the operation.
Interpol also confirmed in their summary that 72 arrests were made after Operation Pangea XVI ended, and opened 325 new investigations.
More than 1,300 criminal websites were shut down after the operation ended, but officials did not clarify how many websites were used for drug trafficking.
The World Customs Organization, the World Health Organization, the UN Office on Drugs and Crime and other organizations supported Interpol throughout the operation.