The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) on Friday warned of a rise in unlawful on-line pharmacies promoting counterfeit capsules made with fentanyl and methamphetamine.
“As Americans increasingly turn to online pharmacies to purchase necessary medications, DEA is issuing this Public Safety Alert to warn of an increase in illegal online, often foreign-based websites that are deceptively targeting American consumers,” the DEA mentioned in a launch.
The DEA mentioned it has recognized web sites in India and the Dominican Republic that declare to be reputable, based mostly within the U.S. or authorised by the Meals and Drug Administration, however have truly been working with drug traffickers.
The DEA cautioned that these websites will usually use U.S. web site addresses and “professional-looking” designs to seem reputable.
“These companies operate illegally, deliberately deceiving American customers into believing they are purchasing safe, regulated medications when they are actually selling fake, counterfeit pills made with fentanyl or methamphetamine,” the DEA warned.
On Wednesday, the Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention in a press launch additionally warned a few “potential public health risk” from ordering what seems to be prescription drugs from on-line pharmacies.
Final month, the Division of Justice introduced expenses towards practically 20 defendants associated to the distribution and manufacturing of counterfeit prescribed drugs by means of on-line pharmacies.
Fentanyl in capsule kind is turning into more and more widespread, with capsules accounting for roughly half of illicit fentanyl seizures final yr, in comparison with 10 p.c in 2017, The Hill reported earlier this yr.
The Hill reported fentanyl seizures by legislation enforcement practically quadrupled between 2017 and 2023 as researchers have continued to search out the drug within the nation’s drug provide.
About 50,000 capsules containing fentanyl have been seized in 2017, and the determine shot as much as greater than 115 million capsules in 2023, based on information from the federal Excessive Depth Drug Trafficking Areas (HIDTA) program. Researchers on the research, funded by the Nationwide Institute on Drug Abuse, sourced information from the HIDTA.
