Finance Ministry Investigation Service joins Europol operation against medication falsification, doping trade
In its statement, the agency noted the Georgian participation had made a “significant contribution” to the operation - organised between April and October - along with agencies of France, Greece, Italy and Spain, with the effort involving police and customs authorities from 28 countries. Photo: is.ge.
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The Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia took part in a “coordinated operation” of the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation targeting trafficking of counterfeit and misused medications and doping substances, the Service said on Monday.
In its statement, the agency noted the Georgian participation had made a “significant contribution” to the operation - organised between April and October - along with agencies of France, Greece, Italy and Spain, with the effort involving police and customs authorities from 28 countries.
Photo from Europol's facebook
Law enforcement officers seized over 10.5 million medication products, dismantled 59 criminal groups, arrested 349 suspects, terminated 10 underground laboratories and seized a “large amount” of misused, falsified or counterfeit medications, doping products and substances, it also noted.
Illegal food, sport supplements, counterfeit Covid-19 vaccines, sanitary products and medical devices were also seized in the operation.
The European Anti-Fraud Office coordinated the agencies with the financial support of the European Union Intellectual Property Office. The effort was further supported by the World Anti-Doping Agency, World Customs Organisation and national medicine agencies.
Georgia and 15 other states were involved in a large-scale, international operation coordinated by Europol to arrest 20 individuals suspected of belonging to the QQAAZZ criminal network which has laundered tens of millions of euros on behalf of the world’s foremost cybercriminals.
Georgia and Europol are expanding joint efforts to better deal with different types of crime. Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Gakharia and Europol's Director Rob Wainwright have signed a Liaison Agreement and a Memorandum of Understanding on secure communication line protocol.
Georgian Interior Minister Giorgi Mgebrishvili and Europol's Director Rob Wainwright signed an Agreement on Operational and Strategic Cooperation to expand cooperation to combat serious and organised cross-border criminal activities.
Today the Parliament of Georgia ratified an agreement between Georgia and Europol which refers partnership to fight cross-border crime and terrorism.
Grigol Liluashvili, the Head of the State Security Service of Georgia, and Catherine De Bolle, the Executive Director of Europol, the European Union’s law enforcement agency, on Wednesday signed a deal on exchange and protection of secret information.