By Asher Mullard

Counterfeiting medicine has become such a sophisticated crime that it has attracted the attention of the world’s largest police organization, Interpol. In November, these top cops wrapped up an operation in South East Asia, in which they helped seize around 20 million counterfeit drugs and arrested more than 30 people. To further stem the tide of phoney, dangerous, unregistered and illegal medical products, Interpol has placed French police officer Aline Plançon at the helm of its dedicated Medical Products Counterfeiting and Pharmaceutical Crime (MPCPC) unit, which was created in January. Working closely with the World Health Organization’s (WHO’s) International Medical Products Anti-Counterfeiting Taskforce (IMPACT)—a four-year-old inter-agency partnership developing global, collaborative anticounterfeiting solutions—Plançon is tasked with supporting and coordinating enforcement activities around the world. Asher Mullard spoke with Plançon about her role in combating a deadly international scourge. (Click here to continue reading)

Image courtesy Interpol