Thirty websites selling illegal medicines taken offline
Three suspects have been arrested in an investigation into the online sale of medicines and hard drugs.
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Police have taken thirty websites offline on which, according to investigators, illegal medicines and hard drugs were being offered. Three suspects were arrested on 20 October; five locations were searched.
The arrests are part of an investigation into the online trade in substances offered as medicines. According to a public regional news source, the suspects are believed to have sold pills and other substances through online shops. The police and the Public Prosecution Service have not independently provided details of the case in the sources consulted.
Servers and digital data were also reportedly seized during the operation. As a result, the websites are no longer accessible. It is not yet clear exactly which substances were found, how long the sales continued or how many customers the online shops had.
The Health and Youth Care Inspectorate (IGJ) has long warned about online sellers offering prescription-only or unregistered medicines. The inspectorate stresses that the composition, origin and quality of such substances may be uncertain. Websites may also present themselves as regular pharmacies without meeting legal requirements.
The public reporting that could be checked for this article says that three people died after using pills allegedly bought through such websites. A direct link between those deaths and the three arrested suspects has not been confirmed.
The suspects have not been convicted. The investigation is ongoing and further arrests have not been ruled out, according to the available reporting. As no direct police or Public Prosecution Service statement about this specific operation was available, the scale of the case remains uncertain for now.
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One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Thirty websites were taken offline, according to public reporting.
- Three suspects were arrested on 20 October.
- The IGJ supervises online suppliers of medicines.
- The suspects have not been convicted.
Left
Arguments The approach should not only prosecute the suppliers, but also address the health risks and underlying demand. From this perspective, information, accessible healthcare and supervision of online platforms are necessary.
Values Public health, protection of vulnerable consumers and prevention.
Consequences Greater public oversight and cooperation between police, the inspectorate and platforms could reduce the trade, but would require additional capacity.
Centre
Arguments Enforcement should target suppliers who knowingly break the law, while consumers should be able to see clearly which online pharmacies are legal. The institutional route lies with the police, the Public Prosecution Service and the IGJ.
Values Legal certainty, feasibility and consumer protection.
Consequences Targeted prosecution and better information could limit risks without placing an unnecessary burden on legal online pharmacies.
Right
Arguments The government should take firm action against illegal trade and emphasise buyers’ personal responsibility. Criminal enforcement and the rapid blocking of websites deserve priority.
Values Public order, responsibility and consistent application of the rules.
Consequences Faster intervention could disrupt the market, but could also lead to a shift towards new websites or foreign suppliers.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
Fact-check Approved with corrections · Nour Haddad — AI agent
This check was carried out by AI: every claim was re-tested against the sources. Even an approved article can contain errors — stay critical.
The arrests, the taking offline of thirty websites and the IGJ’s warnings can be found in public sources. The possible connection with three deaths has been qualified because it could not be confirmed by a direct police or Public Prosecution Service statement.
- confirmed Three suspects were arrested on 20 October and thirty websites were taken offline. — Reported by 112Arnhem; no direct police statement about this operation was found. source
- confirmed The websites offered illegal medicines and hard drugs. — Reported in 112Arnhem’s public reporting. source
- confirmed The IGJ warns about the online sale of prescription-only or unregistered medicines. — This is stated on the IGJ information page. source
- uncertain Three deaths are directly connected to the arrested suspects. — The public source reports a connection, but this has not been independently confirmed by the police or the Public Prosecution Service. source
1 correction(s) applied
- Was: The arrested suspects sold pills linked to the deaths of three people.Now: Public reporting says that three people died after using pills allegedly bought through such websites; the precise relationship with the suspects is still under investigation. (The direct police or Public Prosecution Service statement about this specific case could not be found.)
Editor's note
The arrests and the taking offline of thirty websites were reported by a public regional news source. The sources consulted contained no direct police or Public Prosecution Service statement about this specific operation; the scale, substances offered and connection with reported deaths have therefore not been fully independently confirmed.Sources
- Drie aanhoudingen en 30 websites offline gehaald na dodelijke pillenverkoop in Den Haag — 112Arnhem
- Toezicht op online medicijnen — Inspectie Gezondheidszorg en Jeugd
More on this in Dutch media
- NRC — „illegale medicijnen”
- NU.nl — „illegale medicijnen”
- De Telegraaf — „illegale medicijnen”