CANCER CURE PRAISED BY MEL GIBSON IS BLACK MARKET DEWORMING DRUG BUT DEMAND IS SOARING
Use of a deworming drug praised by Mel Gibson as a miracle cancer cure has risen sharply in the UK, police and health authorities have found.
Border Force officers seized more than 43,000 illicit doses of ivermectin, an antiparasitic medication used to treat threadworm and scabies, during a two-week operation in March.
The UK seizures amounted to almost a third (29 per cent) of antiparasitics confiscated worldwide by police forces in 90 countries, including the US, Mexico and Colombia.
Criminal gangs mislabel ivermectin as “health supplements” to skirt regulations and often sell it as “cancer treatment kits”, according to Interpol, which coordinated the operation. Its use rose heavily during the Covid-19 pandemic and has seen another resurgence because of online misinformation.
Gibson, 70, spoke of ivermectin’s supposed ability to cure cancer during an interview on The Joe Rogan Experience, the world’s most popular podcast.
The actor claimed three of his friends who had “stage four cancer” had recovered miraculously after taking ivermectin and fenbendazole, another dewormer that is only approved for use on animals.
The interview was released on Jan 9, 2025 and has amassed more than 13 million views. During the recording, Rogan did not contradict Gibson’s claims. The podcaster had previously admitted taking ivermectin to treat Covid-19, something he claimed US media outlets had mocked him for.
Dr Richard Simcock, an oncologist and the chief medical officer for Macmillan Cancer Support, said there was “zero real-world clinical evidence” that ivermectin could treat cancer.
In an article on the charity’s website on Oct 1, Dr Simcock speculated that the surge in the drug’s popularity was driven by Gibson’s interview and “magnified by the power of celebrity”.
He wrote: “The podcast of Gibson making these claims has been watched 11 million times. It seems Gibson’s statement has lit a rocket underneath interest in ivermectin, yet it would be hard to imagine any statement from a medical professional ever getting such traction.”
Gibson’s publicist and agent have been contacted for comment.
The UK had the largest number of seizures, with 2.1 million illicit doses impounded between March 10 and March 23 – more than 20 times the number seized by France.
The UK, the US, New Zealand and Singapore all reported significant seizures of anti-parasitic medications, which were “dominated” by illicit shipments of ivermectin and fenbendazole.
Black-market erectile dysfunction pills were the most common medication seized internationally, followed by hypnotics, sedatives and painkillers.
In the UK, officers confiscated half a million doses of Zopiclone, an anti-insomnia medication, according to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA). This was followed by 467,900 doses of Sildenafil, a medication used to maintain erections.
Law enforcement officers arrested 269 suspected criminals worldwide and seized 6.42 million counterfeit or unapproved drugs worth $15.5m (£11.4m).
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Andy Morling, the head of the MHRA’s criminal enforcement unit, said: “The scale of seizures in this year’s operation underlines the persistent demand for medicines outside the regulated supply chain. Organised criminal groups are exploiting that demand and putting people’s health at serious risk.
“This year’s operation also highlights the continued commitment of the MHRA and its international partners to disrupt the criminal networks behind this highly dangerous global trade.
“We will continue to take decisive action to protect the public and ensure that medicines available in the UK meet our strict standards for safety, quality and effectiveness.”
Valdecy Urquiza, the Interpol secretary general, said: “Fake medicines are not just a fraud – they put lives at risk. Through online marketplaces and informal supply chains, criminals can exploit gaps in oversight, targeting people looking for fast or affordable treatment. The consequences can be severe, or even fatal.”
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