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Cyprus joined an international operation targeting a criminal network accused of selling fake medicines and unlicensed supplements across Europe, according to Eurojust.
Authorities from 15 countries took part in coordinated actions on May 12, supported by Eurojust and Europol. Cyprus participated through the Office of the Attorney General and the Cyprus Police.
Investigators say the group built a large-scale operation that promoted counterfeit health products online while falsely presenting them as legitimate treatments for serious and incurable illnesses. Since 2019, the network allegedly sold more than 400 products under different brand names through companies set up across Europe.
The investigation found that the organization relied heavily on fake online identities and deceptive advertising. Hundreds of websites and social media pages were reportedly created using the names and photos of celebrities and fabricated medical experts to attract customers. Members of the network were also trained to operate fraudulent social media accounts designed to avoid detection.
According to Eurojust, call center staff posed as doctors and medical specialists while convincing people to buy the products. Victims were allegedly persuaded to abandon treatments prescribed by real physicians in favor of the fake remedies. When complaints about a product increased, investigators said the group simply rebranded the supplement and placed it back on the market under a new name.
Romanian authorities launched the investigation after receiving complaints from victims and later uncovered an international structure operating across multiple European countries. Officials said legal companies were used to support the organization’s activities and move products through different markets.
During the coordinated operation, authorities searched 113 locations in Bulgaria, Greece, Hungary, Poland, Romania, and Moldova. Investigators also sought evidence from companies in eight countries and questioned 23 witnesses.
Romanian authorities blocked 196 websites connected to the sale and promotion of the supplements. In Bulgaria, investigators located what they described as the group’s main warehouse, where large quantities of supplements were seized for further examination.
The joint investigation team identified most of the suspected members of the organization and arrested several key suspects in Poland, Romania, and Moldova. Investigations are continuing as authorities collect additional evidence and interview more witnesses and suspects.
