Over half a million illegal medicines, including sedatives, steroids and erectile dysfunction tablets, were seized here in the first six months of 2022.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) revealed the figure is down 46% on the same period last year.
But it says the seizures illustrate the ongoing battle Ireland faces against illicit imports of prescription medication.
486,088 doses of bogus or unregulated medicines were impounded at ports, airports and mail sorting centres across the state between January and June of this year.
Sedatives, commonly used by addicts in tandem with other substances, made up about a third of the total.
Steroids, which are popular with bodybuilders looking to gain muscle fast, accounted for a further 12%, and erectile dysfunction drugs formed 9% of the total.
But criminals also saw fears over the ongoing pandemic as a way to make fast cash and the level of unregulated Covid 19 medications found almost doubled to nearly 44,000 units.
HPRA Director of Compliance Grainne Power said many people believe that buying and consuming medications is safe, when the reality is starkly different.
She said: “Although the volume of detentions has decreased, we are still observing significant levels of potent, prescription medicines that are being illegally supplied into Ireland.
“These levels remain very concerning with so many people prepared to take a chance in ordering prescription medicines online.
“When you acquire medicines from unregulated sources, you simply have no idea what you are getting.
“This isn’t merely about people wasting money on falsified or counterfeit products, it is also about the very real dangers of significant side effects, of using a product without supervision where there is no guarantee of what it contains and of experiencing interactions with other medicines being taken.
“All of these risks have the potential to make your condition worse or cause serious harm to health.”
While sedatives carry the risk of addiction or overdose, many of the tablets purporting to be popular erectile dysfunction treatments are often found to be counterfeit.
However, it is steroids which health chiefs say can cause some of the greatest health risks.
These medications - which are either injected or rubbed on as lotions or creams - can cause heart attacks, strokes and blood clots.
Men who consume them without proper supervision can suffer from shrunken testicles, baldness, breast development and prostate cancer.
In women, they can cause excess facial and body hair, a deepened voice and severe acne.
And apart from the health risks and chances of wasting your money, the law also applies hefty penalties to those caught importing illegally.
Illegal importation or possession of anabolic steroids carries a fine of €4,000 per charge or up to a year in prison.
The HPRA has its own inspectors who can carry out surveillance, searches and seizures and prosecutions.
Last year, the HPRA prosecuted a Dublin street trader after he was caught selling Calpol, Benylin, Neurofen and paracetamol from his street stall in Dublin 8.
He pleaded guilty to having €12,000 worth of unlicensed medications and was fined €1,000, with an order to pay some of the HPRA’s legal costs.
And in 2020, a bodybuilder dodged jail after being caught supplying steroids and a slimming medication.
That case heard from HPRA officer Alan Smullen that there had been “a lengthy investigation” and surveillance on the man before the agency moved in.
Much of the trade is now based online and the HPRA said officials moved to shut down 287 websites, e-commerce listings or social media pages in the first half of 2022.
The agency actively searches for websites offering such products without a licence and has the power to order them offline.
Grainne Power added: “Given the fact that so many transactions take place online, it is particularly important and appropriate to highlight those risks through online channels and, where possible, to influence the decision of the buyer prior to purchase.
“We hope our campaign will make people stop and think before they seek to purchase prescription medicines online and ultimately persuade them not to use this route.”
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