| Abstract: |
More than US$117 million worth of potentially dangerous fake food and drink was seized and 672 individuals arrested worldwide in Interpol’s latest Operation Opson. Tampered expiry dates on cheese and chicken, controlled medicines added to drink products and meat stored in unsanitary conditions were some of the offenses discovered during the operation. More than 18.7 million items were recovered in shops, markets and during transport checks during Operation Opson VIII, coordinated by Interpol and Europol. In total, officials seized some 16,000 tonnes of fake food and 33 million liters of fake or adulterated drinks. Expired and unsanitary foods were taken out of circulation Police, customs, national food regulatory authorities and private sector partners in 78 countries took part in the five-month operation which ran from December 2018 through April 2019. |
