In a sweeping crackdown on illegal pharmaceutical smuggling, Colombian authorities seized over 700,000 units of unauthorized medicines in an operation spanning multiple cities. The Fiscal and Customs Police (Polfa), in collaboration with other agencies, executed 22 raids in locations including Barranquilla, Bucaramanga, Cúcuta, Cali, Villavicencio, and Barrancabermeja. The seized drugs, valued at more than $650,000 USD, were being sold in hundreds of pharmacies across Colombia and neighboring countries.
Investigators uncovered that some of the seized medicines had been manufactured with household ingredients like baking soda and yeast—without approval from Colombia’s regulatory agency, Invima. Other products were illegally imported from regional health systems in South America, often through covert routes in the department of Nariño.
The operation has led to the arrest of 12 individuals, now facing charges related to illegal drug sales, conspiracy, and endangering public health. The group reportedly distributed these unapproved medicines to around 600 pharmacies across Colombia and 100 more in nearby countries, placing thousands of consumers at risk.
Among the confiscated products were treatments for severe conditions like cancer and HIV/AIDS, along with dietary supplements, contraceptives, and performance enhancers. Authorities also identified a laboratory in Bogotá believed to be a production hub, with links to over 100 pharmacies potentially involved in the operation.
Colonel Yorguin Malagón, Polfa’s director, emphasized that authorities will remain vigilant in their efforts to protect consumers. “We are committed to stopping the spread of illegal medicines that threaten the health of the public,” he stated.
Since the start of the year, Polfa has seized over 768,000 units of unauthorized medicines in Colombia, representing an estimated value of $1.1 million USD.
