Europol’s latest report, The Threat of Pharmaceutical Crime in the EU and Beyond, exposes an alarming reality: counterfeit medicines are infiltrating the global supply chain, endangering lives, and fueling organized crime. The findings are deeply concerning but, unfortunately, not surprising.
At TrueMed, we’ve seen firsthand how counterfeiters exploit gaps in regulation, technology, and enforcement to push falsified medicines into pharmacies, hospitals, and online marketplaces. Europol’s report validates what we’ve been warning about for years—the scale of pharmaceutical crime is growing, and it demands immediate, coordinated action.
Key Findings: The Expanding Crisis
Europol highlights several disturbing trends that should serve as a wake-up call for regulators, healthcare providers, and the pharmaceutical industry:
A Wide Range of Medicines Are Targeted –
- Counterfeiters are producing falsified versions of diabetes drugs (like Ozempic and Mounjaro), cancer treatments (like Avastin), opioids (like Tramadol and OxyContin), erectile dysfunction pills (like Viagra and Cialis), and even antihistamines (like Zyrtec and Allegra). These aren’t just lifestyle drugs—many are life-saving medications that patients depend on.
Criminals Are Exploiting Supply Chain Weaknesses
- Legal medicines are being diverted and stolen at multiple points, from manufacturing sites to hospitals.
- In France, Europol uncovered a scheme where a pharmacy owner trafficked prescription drugs to Vietnam, using fake prescriptions and smuggling networks.
- Criminals infiltrate legal businesses, using stolen credentials and fraudulent documents to obtain genuine drugs for resale at inflated prices—or to mix them with counterfeits.
Underground Labs and Online Marketplaces Are Fueling the Problem
- Europol found clandestine labs in Europe, including one in San Marino, where criminals manufactured and packaged fake doping substances.
- The dark web, instant messaging apps, and social media influencers are being used to market counterfeits directly to consumers, often bypassing any regulatory oversight.
Consumer Demand Is Driving the Crisis
- Rising demand for weight-loss drugs like Ozempic has led to both supply shortages and an explosion of counterfeit versions. Many of these falsified products contain little to no active ingredient—or worse, toxic substances.
- The fitness industry is another major target, with criminals flooding gyms and online forums with illicit performance-enhancing drugs.
A Response That Matches the Scale of the Problem
Europol’s report makes it clear: pharmaceutical crime is not just a regulatory issue—it’s a public health emergency. We must shift from reacting to counterfeits after they hit the market to preventing them from entering the supply chain in the first place.
At TrueMed, we believe the solution lies in real-time, AI-powered authentication technology that can detect counterfeit drugs before they reach patients. With Europol warning that counterfeiters are now using AI and 3D printing to create more convincing fakes, our industry must stay ahead with equally sophisticated defenses.
What Needs to Happen Next
Europol’s report provides a roadmap for action, and the time to act is now:
- Strengthen Supply Chain Security: The pharmaceutical industry must invest in instant authentication tools that can be deployed at every stage—from manufacturing to pharmacies.
- Crack Down on Illicit Online Sales: More pressure must be placed on social media platforms and e-commerce sites to root out counterfeit drug networks. Europol has identified these as major hubs for illicit trade.
- Global Cooperation Is Essential: Counterfeit pharmaceuticals are a borderless crime. TrueMed supports greater collaboration between law enforcement, regulators, and private industry to tackle the problem at its source.
A Call to Action
Pharmaceutical crime is a clear and present danger, and Europol’s report should be a rallying cry for action. TrueMed is ready to do its part by providing the instant verification tools needed to identify fakes in seconds and shut down counterfeit networks before they can do harm. Latest technologies are not adding anything into the product and hence can be used immediately in the field.
The criminals behind this trade are innovating, adapting, and expanding their reach. It’s time for all of us—governments, businesses, and healthcare providers—to respond with the urgency this crisis demands.
If you want to learn more about how TrueMed is fighting pharmaceutical counterfeiting, get in touch with us. The stakes are too high to wait.
Read the Full Europol Report
For a deeper look into how organized crime is fueling the counterfeit pharmaceutical trade and what law enforcement is doing to combat it, read the full Europol report here: