Ordering pills or supplements online might seem harmless, but according to the Policia Nacional, it’s far more dangerous than most people realise.
From a specialist unit based in the Canillas complex in Madrid, officers are working to dismantle a growing black market of illegal medicines.
Chief Inspector Juanjo Castro, head of the department for Consumption, Environment and Doping, explained the scale of the threat to Codigo de Barras, a programme on Cadena SER.
‘The black market in medicines is fed from two sources,’ said Castro.
‘Products diverted from the legal supply chain – through theft or fake prescriptions – and what we call ‘phantom brands’, made in clandestine laboratories.
‘It’s these last ones that pose the greatest danger. You don’t know how much active ingredient they contain, or what’s actually in them. Some are injectable, others are sold as natural but contain pharmaceutical substances. That can cause death.’
Among the most in-demand products are anabolic steroids, weight-loss drugs and pills claiming to improve sexual performance.
Many are sold as natural supplements, but actually include banned substances like sibutramine – withdrawn from the market due to serious side effects.
‘We’ve found pills that were supposed to contain 20 milligrams and had only 1.5. If someone with heart problems takes them, they could die,’ Castro warned.
In one case, police found vials containing traces of human hair, revealing a complete lack of hygiene.
‘Some people inject these without knowing the risks they’re taking,’ he added.
The internet is the main distribution route. The police unit carries out constant cyber patrols to identify and shut down websites selling these substances. But the issue goes beyond borders.
Spain takes part in Operation Pangea – a global initiative led by Interpol – which has led to the seizure of tonnes of fake medicines and the closure of hundreds of thousands of websites.
Despite these efforts, reports from the public are still rare.
‘People aren’t fully aware of the danger. You should always go to healthcare professionals and use legal channels,’ Castro insisted.
To make reporting easier, the police have set up a 24-hour hotline (628 71 12 98).
Read more Andalucia news at the Spanish Eye.
