Counterfeit Oxycodone Prescription Pill Dies Sold On Amazon

Who will clean up Amazon's dangerous online marketplace?

July 26, 2019 - Los Angeles, CA – Authorities reported Thursday that counterfeit Oxycodone replica M30 pills sold in the San Diego area are believed to be linked to four overdose deaths in a one day span. The small, round blue colored pills have an "M" inside a square on one side and a "30" over a line on the other (shown below).

Illicit versions of the pills contain the opioids fentanyl or carfentanil, which can be fatal, even in small doses. Authorities are trying to determine the source of the fake pills and how many overdoses are linked to them.

"Typically, these are made with pill presses in people's residences and made to look like the legitimate pills and sold on the street," says San Diego County Undersheriff Mike Barnett. "Illicit versions of the pills contain the opioids fentanyl or carfentanil, which can be fatal, even in small doses," added Barnett.

Where can the counterfeit pill dies be purchased? It's Amazon.

The Counterfeit Report, an award-winning consumer advocate and counterfeit watchdog, found Amazon sellers offering counterfeit prescription pill dies to make fake Oxycodone, Alprazolam, Xanax, Viagra, and other prescription drugs, along with tablet binding powder, filler, and pill press machines. The Counterfeit Report purchased the M30 dies (shown below) from an Amazon seller and reported the counterfeit and dangerous listings to Amazon. The listings were removed, but Amazon allowed the seller to remain. The same seller relisted the pill dies weeks later, which were again purchased by The Counterfeit Report and reported to Amazon. The seller as-of-date remains on Amazon.

Shown below: Amazon listing featuring Oxycodone M30 pill manufacturing dies (M30 prescription pill images added);

The obvious question; for what possible legitimate reason are prescription pill dies offered for sale on Amazon?

America is fighting an opioid and drug crisis. It is mind-boggling that Amazon is enabling and facilitating the means for fraudulent and dishonest sellers to manufacture dangerous prescription drugs. These products allow illicit pill manufacturers to ply their trade, where they can use any ingredient they want without restraint: rat poison, fentanyl, Haldol, carfentanil, boric acid, and floor wax, any of which may result in death. Amazon still receives a transaction fee for each item sold.

Amazon.com is a haven for U.S. and cross-border scam artists to freely unload counterfeit, fake, replica, dangerous, and potentially deadly merchandise. However, that is that not the worst of the issues; there are now potentially deadly consequences to the fraudulent activities.

The demarcation point of an e-commerce website and a criminal enterprise is becoming increasingly clouded. Companies that enable and facilitate illegal activity and profit from dishonest sales which impact consumer safety, jobs, and public trust create a public perception of allowable deception with impunity.

President Trump has warned Amazon to clean up the counterfeits or else, but the message is falling on deaf ears while Amazon operates with immunity, sheltering under a legal loophole; 'we're just a venue.' Whatever their excuse, this enabling behavior must be stopped.