,In a sweeping enforcement effort, Singapores Health Sciences Authority (HSA) has removed 1,288 illegal health product listings from local e-commerce and social media platforms as part of Operation Pangea XVII, a global initiative coordinated by INTERPOL to combat pharmaceutical crime. The operation ran from 16 December 2024 to 16 May 2025, with participation from 90 countries worldwide.
The top categories of illegal products included:
Skin and hair condition medicines (37%)
Antibiotic, antifungal, and antiviral treatments (15%)
Unregistered contact lenses (13%)
HSA issued warnings to 732 sellers, including an 18-year-old girl caught selling unregistered contact lenses via Telegram. She had purchased 500 lenses from an overseas site and sold them at $12 per pair, double the purchase price .
Other banned items included:
Diagnostic devices like blood pressure and glucose monitors (8%)
Painkillers and muscle relaxants (6%)
Illegal aesthetic products such as dermal fillers and botulinum toxin (0.4%)
Of the total listings removed, 644 were prescription medicines, which pose serious health risks when used without medical supervision. HSA also blocked 16 overseas websites selling unregistered contact lenses to Singapore consumers .
Consumers are urged to be A-L-E-R-T:
Avoid dubious products, Look for reputable sellers, Examine claims, Report suspicious items, and Trust medical advice.
Violators face severe penalties, including fines up to $100,000 and/or imprisonment up to 3 years under the Health Products Act. The crackdown highlights Singapores commitment to safeguarding public health through vigilant surveillance and international cooperation
Consumer News Region