Nearly 300 packages tested in Customs mail sting

File photo / Sarah Ivey

Nearly 300 mail packages were stopped and tested by Customs and Medsafe during a week-long sting on illegal medications.

The packages were picked up as part of an annual international Interpol operation targeting substandard, illegal and counterfeit medicines.

Medsafe said most of the products examined were unlabelled medicines - with more than 8700 individual tablets found.

Medicines for weight loss, diabetes and insomnia were the next most prevalent, spokesman Derek Fitzgerald said

Only one parcel contained a fake product, the same as in last year's operation.

Anyone intending to buy prescription medicines online should visit their doctor first, Mr Fitzgerald urged.

Prescription medicines bought on the internet were risky because quality, safety and effectiveness could not be guaranteed, he warned.

The week-long operation, which ended on Tuesday, was was the sixth time New Zealand had taken part.

Ninety-nine countries were involved.

About 120 packages were investigated in New Zealand last year.