Operation Pangea 2026: Massive seizure of illegal drugs, thousands of websites blocked

The XVIII edition of took place from 10 to 23 March 2026. Pangea, the international operation aimed at combating the illicit trafficking of pharmaceuticals and healthcare-related products. The operation covered medicines, medical devices, cosmetics, and e-cigarettes, with the aim of identifying illicit practices related to counterfeiting, smuggling of legal products, tax evasion, improper storage, and theft.

Interpol coordination and the participation of ninety countries

The operation was coordinated globally by Interpol and was attended by ninety countries, engaged in a joint effort on multiple fronts. The controls focused primarily on online surveillance, from marketplaces to social media, from messaging apps to the dark web, but also on physical inspections of pharmacies suspected of illicit sales and the tracking of suspicious packages.

Over six million units seized worldwide

The coordinated effort between customs authorities, regulatory authorities and police forces has led to the seizure of over 6 million dosage units of counterfeit drugs, for a value greater than 15 million dollarsThe international balance of the operation also includes 392 investigative activities started, 269 arrests, the dismantling of 66 criminal groups and the closure of 5.700 illegal websites, social pages and channels used for the trade of illegal products.

Checks in Italy at airport and postal hubs

In Italy, the inspections were carried out at the main airport hubs of express couriers and the post office, considered strategic points due to the high number of incoming shipments. The checks were conducted by mixed teams composed of military personnel from the Carabinieri Nas, staff of theCustoms agency and monopolies, of the offices Usmaf and Guardia di Finanza, with the support of the Carabinieri Unit of the Italian Medicines Agency and the Investigation Office of the Anti-Fraud Directorate of the Italian Ministry of the Interior.

Nearly 20 illegal drugs intercepted in shipments bound for Italy

Thanks to the intensification of controls, almost 1000 shipments headed to the national territory have been identified and seized. 20.000 units of illegal and counterfeit drugs, for an estimated value greater than 20.000 €The activities were carried out on the basis of evaluation schemes shared with theItalian Drug Agency, within an operational framework aimed at intercepting potentially dangerous products before they are placed on the market.

New trends: ivermectin, fenbendazole, doping drugs, and weight-loss drugs

The operation highlighted an increase in the illicit importation of antiparasitic medicines such as ivermectin e fenbendazole, the latter authorized only for veterinary use. It has emerged that these products have regained attention after the pandemic period, partly due to their promotion as useful in cancer treatment. The illegal importation of drugs and substances with performance-enhancing properties remains significant, as well as so-called "lifestyle-saving" products, including erectile dysfunction drugs such as sildenafil, tadalafil, and vardenafil, and weight-loss products such as semaglutide and GLP-1 inhibitors.

Joint investigations are still ongoing

The seizures made during the operational phase allowed for further investigations to be initiated. Some joint activities between Customs agency and monopolies e Carabinieri Health Protection are still ongoing and are aimed at reconstructing supply channels, distribution methods and possible connections with criminal networks active in international drug trafficking.

The activity of the Carabinieri NAS in the territory

In parallel with the joint inspections at the hubs, the Carabinieri Health Protection Units intensified inspections of authorized pharmacy stores and websites selling pharmaceuticals. The checks also included surveillance of illegal sales by unauthorized parties and monitoring of irregular websites selling medicines and other health-related products.

Twenty-four new investigative activities and 32 sites facing blackout

The activity of the NAS led to the start of twenty-four new investigative activities, revealing illegal drug sales at unauthorized establishments, including ethnic shops, irregularities in some drug and parapharmaceutical sales sites, and illegal platforms with registrar locations abroad. During the investigations, over 13.000 dosage units of illegal and intercepted drugs thirty-two illegal websites, for which the measure of blackout across the national territory has been proposed to the Ministry of Health.

The role of the Guardia di Finanza and seizures at airports

The controls of the territorial departments of the Guardia di Finanza, also based on the risk analysis carried out by the Special Unit for Goods and Services, have allowed significant seizures to be carried out, especially in customs areas. The activities have particularly concerned the airports of Naples Capodichino, Pisa, Rome Ciampino, Rome Fiumicino and Venice Tessera, where doping substances were also found.

Ten more illegal foreign websites blocked

The Special Units of the Guardia di Finanza also intervened in the blackout of further ten illegal websites of foreign origin, thanks to the enhanced internet monitoring provided during the operation by the Special Unit for the Protection of Privacy and Technological Fraud. This activity confirms the growing importance of digital channels in the illicit sale of unauthorized pharmaceuticals and healthcare products.

An evolving criminal phenomenon between the web, customs, and public health

Operation Pangea 2026 has provided new investigative insights into the international trafficking of various pharmaceuticals, including performance-enhancing drugs, identifying emerging trends in consumption linked to the illegal market. Combating this phenomenon increasingly relies on collaboration between institutions, health authorities, customs, and law enforcement agencies, called upon to address a parallel market that exploits the internet, international shipping, and the growing demand for healthcare products outside of authorized channels.