Europol's SHIELD VI smashes doping rings in Europe's largest crackdown

A major crackdown on illegal pharmaceutical networks has taken place across Europe. Operation SHIELD VI, led by Europol, targeted doping and counterfeit drug rings in 30 countries. The sweep uncovered thousands of suspects and seized millions in illegal goods.

The operation began on 25 February 2026, with authorities shutting down 233 websites and placing 66 others under surveillance. Ten assembly sites and five illegal labs were also seized, including an underground facility in Vienna. This lab produced anabolic steroids and SARMs under unsanitary conditions, employing unqualified staff.

During the raids, officers confiscated 139,116 illegal packages, over 3,285 kg of raw materials, and 924 litres of active substances. They also seized 3.2 million tablets, 916,173 vials, and 3,602 bottles of banned SARMs like MK-677 and RAD-140. The total value of seized goods reached roughly €33 million.

Testing played a key role in the operation, with 5,517 in-competition and 5,916 out-of-competition anti-doping checks conducted. Inspections totalled 4,186, leading to 907 new investigations and the identification of 43 organised criminal groups. The seized SARMs alone exceeded Austria's legal limits by 100,000 times and could have generated nearly €1 million in illegal sales.

By the end of the operation, 3,354 individuals faced prosecution for their involvement in the networks.

The crackdown disrupted large-scale pharmaceutical crime across Europe. Authorities dismantled production sites, halted illegal sales, and launched hundreds of new cases. The operation marks one of the largest coordinated actions against doping and counterfeit drug trafficking in recent years.