Twelve Swedes have been arrested in an global sting targeting illicit trade in Viagra-like impotence medication.
Swedish police have hit six online pharmacies and confiscated more than 60,000 pills, Sweden’s TV4 news reports.
The primary products sold by the internet pharmacies are drugs designed to help men achieve and maintain erections.
The value of the confiscated goods is estimated to be around 4 million kronor ($600,000).
The operation was led by Interpol and the raids took place in 48 countries. In Sweden, police raided locations in Stockholm and Södertälje in eastern Sweden, and Kalmar in the south of the country.
The raids were carried out during the past week, according to Varg Gyllander, a spokesperson for the National Criminal Police (Rikskriminalpolisen).
However, Gyllander refused to confirm the number of suspects arrested in the raids.
“A handful of people have been arrested and we’ve also carried out a number of seizures. I can’t say exactly how many have been arrested right now. We’re in the process of tallying everything up,” he told the TT news agency.
According to Gyllander, several of those arrested remain detained and at least one will be remanded into custody.
“The crime they are suspected of is unauthorized trade in pharmaceuticals. For the most part it has to do with impotence medication,” he said.
The Interpol operation wrapped up on Wednesday, but the Swedish police continue their efforts to battle illegal online pharmacies.
“We haven’t seen the last arrest,” said Gyllander.
This is the second time Swedish police have participated in a coordinated international law enforcement operation again internet pharmacies.
The last operation, which took place in November 2009, resulted in the arrest of 22 people following a joint effort by law enforcement agencies in 26 countries.
Four men and one woman were arrested in Sweden on suspicions of having sold prescription diet and erectile dysfunction pills.
