Deadly Fake Opioids Flood European Online Pharmacies, Prompting Massive Seizures
Synthetic opioids disguised as legitimate painkillers are being sold through European online pharmacies, causing fatalities and prompting authorities to seize billions of euros worth of counterfeit drugs.
In the Netherlands, counterfeit oxycodone tablets have been found laced with nitazenes, synthetic opioids up to 500 times stronger than morphine, leading to rapid respiratory deaths. EU authorities reported seizing over €33 million in fake medicines in 2025 alone. The surge is linked to the rise of online marketplaces and small-parcel shipping, which make detection difficult.
Influencers who label these products as “dupes” or “clones” inadvertently boost demand. Criminal groups are exploiting the low legal risk and high profit margins to expand into counterfeit pharmaceuticals alongside luxury goods and electronics.
Why it matters
The story reveals a growing public-health danger from lethal fake drugs sold online across Europe.
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