EUR 32 million worth of fake medicines and illicit doping substances have been seized across Europe in Operation SHIELD VI, a major operation led by Europol with the support of the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), alongside other international partners.

Carried out between April and November 2025, the operation brought together authorities from 30 European countries. It led to nearly 500 arrests, more than 3,300 prosecutions and investigations into over 40 organised crime groups. In addition, 66 websites used to sell counterfeit medicines were shut down.

The seized products included over 3 million fake pills and nearly 300 000 illegal packages of doping substances, including Semaglutide-based products marketed as fat-burners. Some of these counterfeit medicines closely resemble legitimate products, including opioids, which significantly increases the risk of poisoning and overdose.

Through its support to Operation SHIELD VI, the EUIPO contributed its expertise in tackling intellectual property crime and analysing online infringement trends linked to counterfeit pharmaceuticals, reinforcing coordinated action to protect consumers and legitimate businesses across the EU.

A growing threat for European consumers

According to the latest data, trade in counterfeit and illicit medicines is on the rise, coming at a high cost not only for individual consumers but also for society as a whole. Beyond infringing intellectual property rights, these products pose a serious threat to public health, as they often contain dangerous, substandard or unknown substances.

The misuse of prescription and over-the-counter medicines, together with the growth of unregulated websites selling fake medicines, continues to fuel illegal markets and further complicates enforcement efforts by making detection and interception more difficult.

To better protect consumers from counterfeit medicines and promote safer online purchases, the EUIPO, together with the European Medicines Agency (EMA) and Europol, launched the campaign “Stay on top – EU vs Fake Medicines”. The initiative raises awareness about the risks of buying medicines from unverified online sources and provides guidance on how to identify authorised sellers.

Source: https://www.euipo.europa.eu/en/news/euipo-supports-major-europe-wide-action-against-counterfeit-medicines