This DEA-led investigative effort is the first to target e-trafficking located solely within the US. The alleged drug dealers who operated these rogue internet pharmacies received prescription orders for controlled substances over the Internet, which were then shipped to the doors of many US citizens, sometimes without any prescription needed. These alleged criminal pharmaceutical drug traffickers averaged more than $50,000 a day in profits from their illegal internet based enterprise.
The operation is part of the DEA’s “Virtual Enforcement Initiative.” This new DEA cyber initiative acknowledges that criminals in the drug trade are embracing the use of 21st century technology.
“Operation CYBERx puts out of business alleged cyber criminals who were selling powerful narcotics without legitimate prescriptions to anyone with a computer and cash,” said DEA administrator Karen Tandy.