Europol and partners prosecute 3,354 suspects in Operation SHIELD VI against counterfeit medicines and illicit doping substances across 30 countries.
Law enforcement agencies across the globe have prosecuted 3,354 individuals in a major Europol-coordinated operation targeting criminal networks involved in the trafficking of counterfeit medicines, unauthorized drugs and doping substances, the agency announced. The action, known as Operation SHIELD VI, took place between April and November 2025 and brought together police, judicial, customs, medical and anti-doping authorities from 30 countries to tackle pharmaceutical and related organised crime.
Europol’s coordination was supported by a range of partners, including the European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF), the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO), INTERPOL, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and national medicine agencies, enabling authorities to share intelligence and harmonise enforcement actions across borders.
Operation SHIELD VI focused on disrupting the illegal trade in falsified medicines, anabolic steroids, doping agents and unregulated supplement products, goods that can pose serious public health risks due to unknown or hazardous ingredients and incorrect dosages. Investigators seized large quantities of illicit pharmaceuticals and related products during the multi-stage campaign.
Customs and law enforcement authorities also targeted supply chains linked to the distribution and sale of these illegal substances, making arrests, conducting searches and pursuing prosecutions in a coordinated effort to dismantle networks that exploited global demand for cheap and unregulated drugs.
Officials emphasised that Operation SHIELD VI demonstrates the importance of cross-border cooperation in combating pharmaceutical crime, which not only undermines lawful industry and public health but can also facilitate other forms of organised criminality.
Reports are sourced from official documents, law-enforcement updates, and credible investigations.
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