Illegal online pharmacies sell fentanyl pills laced with meth: DEA

Illegal online pharmacies are increasingly selling counterfeit pills containing fentanyl and methamphetamine to customers who think they are buying prescription drugs from legitimate sources, the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration has warned.

“As Americans increasingly turn to online pharmacies to purchase necessary medications, the DEA is issuing this public safety alert to warn of an increase in illegal online websites, often based abroad, that fraudulently target American consumers.” , says a press release from the DEA.

Customers think they are buying Oxycodone, Adderall and Xanax because the websites often look legitimate with 24-hour customer service, a US website address and a professional-looking design.

Websites operating from India and the Dominican Republic that claim to be legitimate U.S. sites “work with drug traffickers to process online orders containing counterfeit pills,” the DEA said.

In 2023, the DEA seized more than 80 million fentanyl-laced counterfeit pills and approximately 12,000 pounds of fentanyl powder, representing more than 390 million lethal doses of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more potent than heroin. Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant.

On September 30, the U.S. Attorney's Office for the Southern District of New York announced indictments against 18 people involved in a scheme to manufacture and distribute millions of deadly counterfeit drugs through fake online pharmacies in India, the Dominican Republic and the United States were involved. At least nine of her clients died from drug poisoning between August 2023 and June 2024.

Targeting consumers with counterfeit pills is nothing new. Three years ago, the DEA warned the public about the increase in deaths and the availability of counterfeit prescription pills containing fentanyl and meth.

Reputable pharmacies always require a doctor's prescription; have a physical address and telephone number in the United States; have a license in the state(s) in which they operate and do business; And
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, a licensed pharmacist is responsible for answering patient questions.

Consumers can visit the FDA's BeSafeRx campaign website for related resources and tools.