Thousands of pill presses and encapsulating machines, according to the US Justice Department, were allegedly sold there, even to customers who were later found guilty of drug-related offenses.
The apparatus is capable of producing fake medications, including ones that include fentanyl.
It happens at a time when numerous US states are dealing s, were also sold.
Associate Attorney General Vanita Gupta stated, “Counterfeit pills laced with fentanyl are a significant contributor to the deadly overdose epidemic,” and advised that the department “is committed to using all available enforcement measures” to make sure businesses selling pill-making supplies abide by the law.
Federal prosecutors claimed that the e-commerce behemoth specifically disregarded the Controlled Substances Act (CSA), which mandates that businesses maintain stringent records and disclose them to the Drug Enforcement Administration.
The government claims that the pill presses available for purchase on the website may generate thousands of pills in an hour. Additionally, encapsulating devices that fill pill capsules with powder were offered for sale.
eBay has refuted the accusations, stating that it resolved the case to save money on legal fees. However, as part of the settlement, eBay promised to take further steps to comply with the CSA.
“Maintaining a safe and trusted marketplace for our global community of sellers and buyers is a fundamental principle of our business,” the business stated in a statement.
Hundreds of consumers who bought pill presses also bought fake molds, stamps, or colors to produce fake medicinal tablets, the US authorities discovered throughout its probe.
The US Centers for Disease Control report that over 110,000 persons died in the US in 2022 from drug overdoses. Fentanyl, a potent painkiller, and other synthetic opioids were responsible for more than two thirds of the fatalities.
Due to the widespread fentanyl use that has taken over Oregon’s largest city, Portland, the state of emergency was announced on Tuesday.
