site.btaMore than 220 Pharmacies, Beauty Salons, Gyms, Warehouses Inspected Across Country in International Operation

More than 220 locations, including pharmacies, drugstores, gyms, beauty salons, warehouses, and others, were inspected across the country during specialized raids conducted as part of the international operation PANGEA XVIII, an annual, INTERPOL-coordinated international crackdown on the online sale of counterfeit and illicit medicines and medical products. It was carried out with the cooperation of EU member states, Interpol, Europol, and the World Customs Organization, the General Directorate National Police (GDNP) announced on its website on Wednesday.

Earlier this month, authorities dismantled an illegal production facility in Sofia that was manufacturing counterfeit anabolic steroids, pharmaceuticals, and dietary supplements. A suspect was arrested, and four premises linked to the operation were identified. These sites were used to produce liquid formulations and tablets, as well as to fill ampoules and blister packs.

During the raids, officials seized more than 200 boxes and plastic containers holding over one million pills, along with numerous bags of raw materials used in the production of medicinal products. They also discovered ampoules containing liquid substances, glass vials filled with injectable solutions, and several machines used in tablet manufacturing.

A test purchase at a pharmacy in the capital revealed that prescription-only medications were being sold without requiring a valid prescription. Inspections indicated that these medicines had previously been distributed illegally in large quantities.

In Burgas, on Bulgaria’s Black Sea coast, inspections found pharmacies operating without a licensed pharmacist and selling expired medications. At a beauty salon in the same city, authorities uncovered supplies for injectable procedures, including factory-packaged needles, as well as botulinum toxin and dermal fillers, products that are prohibited for use outside a licensed medical setting or without proper certification.

Expired dietary supplements were found at a retail location in Ruse, Northeastern Bulgaria, on the Danube.