Unidentified internet 'drugstore' poses potential lethal risks, alert authorities caution
The pills appeared identical to the genuine ones, their true composition concealed through expert forgery. A few days after receiving her online order, the woman who procured them succumbed to lethal fentanyl overdose.
This incident is highlighted in a recent safety advisory released by US Drug Enforcement Agency investigators, who express concern over an upsurge in illicit, predominantly foreign-based online retailers reportedly targeting American customers with deceitful tactics.
“These businesses operate illegally, deliberately misleading American customers into believing they are purchasing safe, regulated medications when they are, in fact, peddling fake, fake pills laced with fentanyl or methamphetamine,” the DEA stated, noting that these illegitimate pharmacies often use American domain names and have a professional appearance.
Instead of stocking products manufactured by reputable pharmaceutical companies, the DEA pointed out, “Many of these sites claim to be legitimate, USA-based or FDA-approved sites, but are actually collaborating with drug traffickers to supply counterfeit pills through online orders.”
Experts have indicated several warning signs that might alert consumers to a potential scam, including websites that offer drugs without requiring a valid prescription, those displaying prices in foreign currency, websites lacking proof of legitimate state and federal licensing, and the delivery of damaged packaging in a foreign language or pills without expiration dates.
Similarly, this month, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued a cautionary notice stating that suspicious online pharmacies have also been known to “offer substantial discounts or prices that seem too good to be true.”
Fake pharmacy websites recognized by DEA agents include numerous sites with generic names, such as pharmacystoresonline.com, careonlinestore.com, orderpainkillersonline.com, and USAmedstores.com. These sites now direct visitors to a message indicating that the domain has been confiscated by US authorities.
“If you have acquired alleged medication from any of these websites, you should immediately cease using it and contact your local DEA office” or submit a report online, the DEA advised.
In addition to informing consumers about the risks of fake online pharmacies, federal agents have been clandestinely working to obstruct and dismantle lethal trafficking operations.
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Recently, the US Justice Department levied charges against 18 defendants accused of operating fake online pharmacies following an investigation by the DEA and the Homeland Security Investigations agency.
Officials claim that the group, with members based in the US, India, and the Dominican Republic, allegedly circulated millions of counterfeit pharmaceuticals online, including fake pills that caused the demise of at least nine hapless consumers.
If convicted, all 18 defendants face imprisonment for life, DOJ said.
“These individuals distributed millions of perilous fake pills to victims in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia,” DEA Administrator Anne Milgram stated in a statement. “The defendants did this to generate income by fostering addiction with deadly, extremely addictive fentanyl. The DEA is unwaveringly determined to save lives by identifying these criminal networks and bringing them to a halt.”
The DEA warned consumers about the rise of illicit online pharmacies, stating that these businesses often pose as legitimate, FDA-approved sites but peddle fake pills laced with dangerous substances like fentanyl or methamphetamine. The use of these counterfeit medications can lead to serious health issues, as demonstrated by the lethal fentanyl overdose of the woman who purchased falsely labeled pills online.
