The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has unsealed charges against 13 individuals, including pharmaceutical distributor executives, sales representatives, and brokers, in connection with the unlawful distribution of nearly 70 million opioid pills and more than 30 million doses of other commonly abused prescription drugs.
The operation is the largest-ever criminal enforcement action targeting distributors of pharmaceutical opioids, with an estimated street value of $1.3 billion, the agency said in a statement.
“The defendants, including pharmaceutical drug distributors, allegedly exploited the opioid crisis for profit—selling dangerous and addictive drugs to pill-mill pharmacies at above-market prices, knowing that the drugs would end up on the black market,” said Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General Nicole M. Argentieri, head of the DOJ’s Criminal Division. “Our message is clear: we will not hesitate in our pursuit of those involved in dumping addictive pharmaceutical drugs onto the streets.”…