Police in Cataluña have broken up a major international distribution network for illegal viagra, arresting a 53-year-old Pakistani national and a 35-year-old Indian woman, both residents of Premia de Mar in Barcelona.
The police investigation began in February when the head of the Post Office in Vallés reported receiving a damaged package from India which contained drugs to counter erectile dysfunction. The package was destined for a mobile phone accessory shop which had already received more similar shipments and was acting as a front.
The investigation led to the arrest of the two individuals and the seizure of 400,000 tablets. As with many of these types of organisations, sales were online and a network of websites had been set up worldwide.
All enquiries, shipments to customers and payments were routed via the main website of the organisation. The organisation had been in operation since 2012 and had been shipping and selling around 150,000 tablets per month to customers throughout Europe, mainly in Germany.
Police say that the illegal drugs are manufactured under precarious conditions and have numerous side effects and reactions to other medications.
The two detainees have been remanded in custody.