Over 90,000 false and illegal prescription medicines have been seized during an operation by authorities in Ireland, mainly targeting online sales.
The medicines are valued at over €375,000 and include large quantities of anabolic steroids, sedatives, painkillers and erectile dysfunction products.
The drugs were recovered during a week-long operation this month which involved the Health Products Regulatory Authority, the Revenue's Customs Service and gardaí.
The breakdown of the 90,000 units of medicines is: anabolic steroids 29,518 units, sedatives 25,241 analgesics 5,477 erectile dysfunction 5,700 units and small quantities of other products.
HPRA Chief Executive Dr Lorraine Nolan expressed particular concern about the number of anabolic steroids seized.
She said members of the public are putting their health at significant risk, by buying medicines from unverified and unregulated sources.
Laboratory analysis of products detained has shown the illicit medicines often contain too little, or too much of the active ingredient.
They have also been found to contain harmful or undeclared substances.
This seizure was part of a Europe-wide Interpol-coordinated project called Pangea XI, which has run each year since 2008.
The mail order of prescription medicines, including internet supply, is banned in Ireland.
No internet pharmacy authorised in another country is permitted to supply prescription medicines to consumers in Ireland.
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