Washington: The Drug Enforcement Administration said coordinated operations across multiple states led to the arrest of four individuals and the shutdown of a vast network of illicit online pharmacies as part of Operation Meltdown.
The action was carried out with the cooperation of the US Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of New York, targeting transnational criminal organisations allegedly supplying diverted and counterfeit pharmaceuticals to customers across the US. The DEA said the groups had been under investigation by its Rocky Mountain Field Division since 2022.
Authorities noted that beginning January 27, 2026, DEA field offices nationwide executed multiple enforcement actions, resulting in four arrests, the issuance of five Immediate Suspension Orders and one Order to Show Cause. These steps followed the US government’s decision to shut down more than 200 online pharmacies accused of filling hundreds of thousands of orders without valid prescriptions.
Investigators found that the operators illegally dispensed and shipped diverted medications and counterfeit pills to customers throughout the US, violating federal regulations and breaching a closed drug distribution system designed to protect patient safety. Over the course of the investigation, the DEA identified thousands of customers who had purchased drugs through these sites and sent more than 20,000 letters seeking public assistance to support the ongoing probe.
DEA Administrator Terrance Cole said the case highlighted how foreign-based traffickers exploit the healthcare system by hiding behind professional-looking websites and using domestic networks to move dangerous drugs. He warned that illegal online pharmacies sell counterfeit and unapproved pills without regard for public safety, adding that enforcement actions such as Operation Meltdown are critical to saving lives.
Earlier in 2024, the DEA issued a public service announcement warning of a rise in illegal online pharmacies, many of which sold counterfeit pills containing fentanyl to unsuspecting customers who believed they were purchasing legitimate medicines. According to authorities, these sites often use US-based web addresses and claim to be FDA-approved to appear credible.
However, investigations showed that many of the websites taken down falsely presented themselves as legitimate US-based pharmacies, while working with drug traffickers to fulfill orders using counterfeit pills or diverted pharmaceuticals. The DEA said such drugs are frequently manufactured with fentanyl or methamphetamine, posing severe health risks including ineffective treatment, serious side effects, and death.
The agency said it continues to collaborate closely with Indian law enforcement partners and the Food and Drug Administration to dismantle illicit pharmaceutical networks at their source and disrupt the flow of illegal drugs threatening public health and safety in the United States.
The DEA, in collaboration with the US Attorney’s Office, has dismantled over 200 illegal online pharmacies linked to an India-based criminal network. Operation Meltdown led to four arrests and highlighted the dangers of counterfeit drugs, often containing fentanyl, being sold as legitimate medications. The crackdown aims to protect public health and disrupt illicit pharmaceutical networks.