Poland revokes licenses for over 100 pharmacies over illegal drug exports

Approximately 100 to 110 pharmacies in Poland have had their operating licenses revoked due to the illegal trade and export of medicines. According to Chief Pharmaceutical Inspector Łukasz Pietrzak, the illicit export of drugs worth up to 2 billion PLN annually was most intense between 2015 and 2019, causing significant shortages of essential medications, including cardiovascular, anticoagulant, and hormonal treatments.

Criminal schemes involved an “inverted distribution chain,” where pharmacies sold surplus deficit medicines to wholesalers or clinics, which were then smuggled abroad. Some entities operated as fronts, with some pharmacies remaining open for only two hours a week while processing massive quantities of drugs. To bypass detection, entrepreneurs often operated across multiple provinces.

Law enforcement agencies, including the National Prosecutor's Office and the National Revenue Administration, have faced significant challenges in securing evidence. Prosecutors reported instances of destroyed documentation through mysterious fires, vehicle thefts, or documents being intentionally damaged by water. Investigations are long-term processes involving extensive documentation and cooperation between pharmaceutical inspectors and prosecutors.