This archive report was first published on 8 July 2019.
On July 8, 2019, a historic operation involving 23 European Union nations and 10 other countries, including Albania, Colombia, Iceland, Switzerland, and the United States, brought down a massive illicit medicine trafficking network.
The operation, codenamed Viribus and coordinated by Europol, was led by Italy's Carabinieri police and involved Interpol, the Joint Research Centre, and the European Anti-Fraud Office OLAF.
According to Europol, the operation was the largest of its kind ever, with 17 organized crime groups involved in the trafficking of counterfeit medicines and doping materials across Europe.
"Dismantled 17 organised crime groups involved in the trafficking of counterfeit medicines and doping material across Europe," said the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Police shut down nine underground labs in European countries and seized almost 24 tonnes of raw steroid powder, highlighting the widespread use of illicit hormones in animal breeding and the black market for anabolic substances.
"Over the last 20 years, the worldwide trade in anabolic substances has increased significantly," Europol noted, citing athletes, gym fanatics, and bodybuilders as users.
WADA's head of intelligence and investigations, Gunter Younger, praised the multi-party collaboration that produced real results and made a significant impact on the availability of counterfeit and illegal drugs used by some athletes globally.
