Aurélie Le Moigne/ Alamy Stock Photo
More than 2 million doses of illegal medicines — valued at £4.6m — were seized by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency and UK Border Force from 10 and 23 March 2026.
In a statement published on 7 May 2026, the MHRA said that more than half of the medicines seized between 10 and 23 March 2026 were controlled drugs, “with the remainder classified as prescription-only medicines in the UK”.
It added that the medicines were seized as part of Operation Pangea XVIII, which is an international initiative aimed at tackling the illegal medicines trade.
“The products most commonly intercepted this year were associated with sedation, pain relief, and treatments for erectile dysfunction,” the statement said.
The MHRA noted that its criminal enforcement unit also took action to disrupt online supply routes, such as websites, social media accounts and posts, and online marketplaces.
Andy Morling, head of the MHRA’s criminal enforcement unit, said: “The scale of seizures in this year’s operation underlines the persistent demand for medicines outside the regulated supply chain.
“Organised criminal groups are exploiting that demand and putting people’s health at serious risk.
“We will continue to take decisive action to protect the public and ensure that medicines available in the UK meet our strict standards for safety, quality and effectiveness.”
Ian Kibblewhite, postal lead at UK Border Force, said: “Fake and unauthorised medicines can be incredibly dangerous. Sometimes life-threatening.
“By taking millions of doses off our streets, we are disrupting organised crime and protecting the public.”
The MHRA also said that it encourages people to only buy medicines from regulated suppliers, such as registered pharmacies, and to be cautious of websites offering medicines without a prescription or at “unusually low prices”.
Operation Pangea was launched in 2008 and combines resources from around 90 countries and territories, including Canada, Germany, Ireland, Israel, New Zealand, Singapore, Switzerland and the United States.
In 2024, the MHRA reported it had seized more than 15.5 million doses of illegally traded medicines in 2023, including more than 2 million doses seized during Operation Pangea.
