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Swiss customs crack down on fake medicinal imports

Parcel with counterfeit pills
Two thirds of the illegal shipments of medical products contained potency preparations for men. Keystone/Alessandro Della Bella

Switzerland’s customs and border security authorities have seized more than 230 packages of illegally imported counterfeit medical products.

The confiscations were conducted during a week-long international campaign in June against the illegal online trade in fake medicines.

Two-thirds of the illegal shipments contained counterfeit erectile stimulants, the Swiss Agency for Therapeutic Products (SwissmedicExternal link) said on Wednesday.

Most of the parcels were sent from Hong Kong, Poland and India, Swissmedic added.

In total, the Swiss authorities checked 948 packages as part of the latest campaign coordinated by Interpol and with the participation of 93 other countries.

During the campaign, more than three million units of illicit and misbranded medicines and healthcare products were secured, according to InterpolExternal link.

Swissmedic said that the illegal distribution of medicinal products is organised by international criminal networks that often buy the products from Asia.

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SWI swissinfo.ch - a branch of Swiss Broadcasting Corporation SRG SSR