Paraguay busts counterfeit medicine ring in Alto Paraná

Paraguayan authorities have dismantled a sophisticated network engaged in the sale of counterfeit and unregistered medicines, a significant operation targeting public health and intellectual property rights. The investigation, led by the Specialized Unit for Intellectual Property and Smuggling Crimes in Alto Paraná, culminated in multiple raids across Ciudad del Este and Hernandarias.

During the coordinated operations, prosecutors and law enforcement seized a range of high-risk items. These included potent drugs like Veltrane Retatrutide and Tirzepatide (20 mg), lyophilized peptides, and components used in the clandestine manufacturing of pharmaceuticals. A raid on the Bionova clinic in Ciudad del Este uncovered kits for various treatments, including immunity, muscle hypertrophy, alopecia, menopause, and aesthetic purposes, alongside confiscated substances such as Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, DMSO, MSM, and sodium chloride.

The investigation gained momentum on June 9 when a 21-year-old was apprehended with 720 vials of a product identified as T.G. 15 (Tirzepatida), which lacked any legal documentation. This arrest led to formal charges for alleged trademark infringement under Law No. 3440/08. The prosecutor's office plans to request technical and expert reports from tax, health surveillance, and health ministry institutions to assess the full extent of the health damage and the traceability of the seized products.