These were followed by sleeping, diet and hair growth pills, the statement added.
Like in 2017, the majority of illegal shipments were from India (42%), followed by Eastern Europe (32%) and Asia (mainly Singapore, 17.5%).
The huge increase in seizures last year is partly due to more intensive collaboration between the different authorities, and a simplified working procedure between the Federal Customs Administration and Swissmedic.
Imports of Xanax, an anxiolytic drug, bought illegally on the Internet and via the darknet are worrying, the Swiss agency said. Its active ingredient alprazolam is a member of the benzodiazepine group and is subject to drug regulations. In recent years, it has been increasingly misused as a recreational drug and can be very addictive.
Last year, Swissmedic and customs seized 15 illegal shipments of Xanax from Cambodia, Hungary and other countries. According to information from the manufacturer of the original preparation, more than 95% of Xanax preparations sold illegally are counterfeit.
Swissmedic urges people to be particularly wary of buying counterfeit medicines online which may be poor quality and represent a health risk.
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Swiss president visits region affected by glacier collapse
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Swiss President Karin Keller-Sutter spoke with communities affected by the Birch glacier collapse, which buried the village of Blatten.
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On Saturday the Lake Geneva, Valais and Basel regions are expected to record the first tropical day of the year, with temperatures exceeding 30°C.
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The Swiss economy saw the clouds that had gathered over its prospects lift somewhat in May. However, the KOF economic barometer is still below its long-term average.
Direct operations too dangerous in Swiss landslide valley
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By Friday morning 365 people had been forced to leave their homes because of Wednesday's landslide in the Swiss village of Blatten.
Franco-Swiss raclette war set to be settled on Sunday
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The battle for the world's largest raclette will be transformed on Sunday in Saint-Gingolph, canton Valais, into a raclette of friendship served at the border.
Flood risk threatens Swiss valley after ‘millennium event’ glacier collapse
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Two days after a gigantic avalanche of ice, mud and debris buried much of the village of Blatten in canton Valais, the danger is not over.
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