Seven people detained. Part of a group producing counterfeit pharmaceuticals has been broken up

Officers of the Katowice Board of the Central Bureau for Combating Cybercrime, acting on the basis of an investigation conducted by the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Poznań, detained seven people suspected of participating in an organized criminal group involved in the production and marketing of counterfeit medicinal products. These included counterfeit hormonal drugs and anabolic steroids, which were then offered for sale on the Internet and on social media platforms.

According to investigators' findings, the perpetrators created their own brand, trademarks and packaging, along with holograms and QR codes, which, when scanned, directed to an Internet domain prepared by the group. Orders were accepted via instant messaging, and the goods went to recipients throughout Poland and even abroad - as courier shipments.

Operational and reconnaissance activities carried out made it possible to unravel the structure of the group and gather evidence that enabled operations in several provinces. In mid-November, CBZC officers detained seven people and conducted nine searches in the suspects' apartments and cars.

In the course of the operation, a significant amount of pharmaceutical products were secured, including preparations available only in stationary pharmacies by prescription - including anti-diabetic drugs and agents from the S2 list of Annex 1 to the International Convention Against Doping in Sport (including Glow GHK-Cu, Trizepatide, Retatrutide, BPC 157 & TB 500). Officers also secured approx. 300 thousand zlotys in cash, more than 200 thousand zlotys in the bank accounts of one of the detained persons, and a car worth 110 thousand zlotys.

The detainees were brought to the Regional Prosecutor's Office in Poznań, where they heard charges of participating in an organized criminal group and bringing danger to the life and health of many people. The prosecutor applied preventive measures against them: police supervision, property sureties and a ban on leaving the country.

According to the service, this was the third realization in the ongoing investigation. A total of 20 people were detained, including the leader of the group. Since the beginning of the case, the operations have been supported by investigators of the Analytical and Investigative Team of the Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA). Investigators are announcing further detentions.

Source: CBZC