Police, border officials say organized crime involved in fake pills sent by mail

VANCOUVER – Canadian border officials and police warn that organized crime is threatening both the health and the bank accounts of those who have purchased counterfeit prescriptions through the mail.

Officials say they’ve seized thousands of fake prescription pills worth more than $1 million as part of an international operation targeting criminal groups.

RCMP Sgt. Duncan Pound says the operation, which ran from Sept. 25 to Oct. 2, was co-ordinated by Interpol and spanned 100 countries.

He says the fake medications sent by mail included anti-depressants, sedatives, prescription weight-loss products, heart medications, hormone-replacement therapies, and erectile dysfunction drugs.

Police say a 58-year-old B.C. man was caught with 6,000 counterfeit erectile dysfunction medications and they’ve recommended charges to Crown counsel.

Not only are consumers’ identities vulnerable through credit card fraud, but a CBSA official says people put their health and even their lives at risk by taking non-prescribed medications.