A major offensive against cyber drug peddlers saw the DEA seize over 200 domains connected to an India-based TCO running illegal online pharmacies. Under Operation Meltdown, the agency targeted outlets distributing controlled substances without prescriptions, linked to deadly consequences including six deaths and four overdoses.
Nationwide operations starting January 27 yielded four arrests alongside five suspensions and a show-cause order, all crafted to avert public health crises from mishandled drugs per CSA guidelines.
Operators cunningly designed sites to appear as credible American pharmacies, promising regulated, FDA-vetted products. Harsh reality: orders were packed with diverted or counterfeit meds, frequently dosed with fentanyl or methamphetamine, breaching the secure drug distribution chain.
Thousands of U.S. customers were pinpointed in the dragnet, with 20,000+ letters now circulating to solicit details for the probe’s next phase.
Through international teamwork, especially with Indian enforcers, the DEA is methodically uprooting these global operations that exploit digital anonymity for profit over safety.
This domain sweep illuminates the perils lurking in the online pill market. As enforcement intensifies, it reinforces the need for caution: legitimate prescriptions and licensed dispensers are non-negotiable for health protection.