Investigation Service of the Ministry of Finance of Georgia, with the support of Liaison officer of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia in Europol, took part in Europol coordinated operation Shield - a global effort to target trafficking of counterfeit and misused medicines and doping substances.
Among with France, Greece, Italy, Spain and involved police and customs authorities from 28 countries, Georgia made a significant contribution to the operation as well. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) coordinated the agencies while the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) offered financial support. Operation, which took place between April and October 2022, was further supported by Frontex, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), the World Customs Organization (WCO) and national medicine agencies.
As a result of operation, law enforcement officers of different countries, seized over 10.5 million medicinal products, dismantled 59 criminal groups, arrested or reported to the judicial authorities 349 suspects, shut down 10 clandestine labs and seized massive amounts of misused, falsified or counterfeit medicines, doping products and substances, illegal food and sport supplements, counterfeit COVID vaccines, sanitary products and medical devices.