ANKARA
Seven websites promoting and selling counterfeit drugs in Turkey have been shut down, while 409 more such websites have been reported to the Interpol, Turkish authorities announced Friday.
According to a statement released Friday by the Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, which comes under the Turkish Ministry of Health, the counterfeit drugs were mainly promoted online as aphrodisiacs.
The action was taken as part of Interpol’s operation "PANGEA VIII" against counterfeit drugs launched in 115 countries between June 9 and 16, the statement said.
The Interpol operation led to the detention of 156 suspects and seizure of counterfeit drugs worth $81 million worldwide. In total, 2,414 websites that sold such drugs were shut down, while access to 550 more websites that did publicity for the drugs was restricted.
Authorities have urged people to be wary of buying drugs online and only get prescribed medicines from pharmacies, the statement added.
