Authorities in Moldova and Romania dismantled a criminal network producing and distributing illegal pharmaceuticals across the EU
An operation supported by EUROPOL along with Moldovan and Romanian authorities resulted in busting a major criminal network involved in the distribution to illegal steroids to influencers
According to EUROPOL, the criminal network produced and distributed illegal anabolic and counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
Officials arrested 11 suspects and dismantled an illegal lab where substances were produced. They also found over 1 million pills at the production site.
A statement by the EU law agency stated that “The criminal network was found to be supplying a large number of clients across Romania and the European Union”.
“The Romanian suspect had close ties with gyms in Romania, which the networks supplied with the illegal goods”.
“Some of their clients were well-known social media influencers with popular dietary and nutrition channels, as well as prominent entertainment personalities who often appeared in broadcast media”.
Authorities said that suspects used instant messaging applications and dark web marketplaces to reach customers in other EU countries.
“To disguise the origin of the products, they used labels from famous e-commerce marketplaces to package the parcels”, added the statement.
The suspects then received payments through cryptocurrencies and used crypto-mixers to launder the criminal assets.
EUROPOL estimates that the criminal profits may have reached €1.5 million.
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