There's been a massive haul of illegal and counterfeit prescription medication in the past week.

The Irish Medicines Board has confirmed that over 100,000 items with an estimated value of almost €300,000 have been recovered here in Ireland as part of a massive operation led by Interpol.

Among the items seized here during the week long investigation were illegal or couterfeit painkillers, sedatives, weightloss products, steroid and tablets for erectile dysfunction.

The operation, described as the largest ever of its kind targetting the sale of medicines online , was spearheaded by Interpol but also involved the Irish Medicines Board, Gardai and Revenue's Customs Service.

Over 100,000 individual tablets, capsules and liquids were seized here in Ireland as part of the co-ordinated initiative involving 110 countries.

10,600 illegal websites have also been closed down, four of which were controlled in this country, while 239 people have been arrested in the Interpol sting. Two of those arrests were here in Ireland.

The IMB is warning people who buy prescription drugs online that they are compromising their health as well as their personal and financial data.