''We are talking here both of drugs like heroine and cocaine, and prescription drugs being sold illegally,'' INCB Secretary Koli Kouame told IPS on telephone from the organisation's headquarters in Vienna. 

''There have been several instances of heroine and cocaine being transported by mail,'' he said. That is besides the facilitation of international communication through the Internet. 

But the sale of potent medicinal drugs over the Internet is becoming a particularly widespread problem, he said. ''That includes a lot of drugs that are very potent such as some painkillers and powerful analgesics,'' he said. ''The billions of doses of drugs sold through the Internet encompass the whole range.'' 

Sale of these drugs is always potentially dangerous ''because the buyer and seller do not see one another,'' Kouame said. ''And dangerous drugs can be sold without prescription.'' 

The drugs sold illicitly on the Internet pose potentially fatal health risks to customers, says the annual report of the International Narcotics Control Board (INCB) released Wednesday. The report details practices and dangers arising from these. 

''Illicit cyber sales and the smuggling of pharmaceuticals containing narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances by mail have been increasing steadily over the past year and now constitute the vast majority of sales of such illicitly operating Internet pharmacies,'' the report says. ''Unlicensed Internet pharmacies routinely sell narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances without the mandatory prescription.'' 

Illicit Internet sales include substances with a high potential of abuse, such as certain opioids (for example, oxycodone), stimulants (amphetamines) and benzodiazepines (eg. alprazolam and diazepam) as well as substances with possibly fatal health risks when consumed without adequate medical supervision, such as fentanyl and secobarbital, the report says. 

The number of deaths caused by illegal sale of dangerous drugs is hard to tell, said Kouame. ''Deaths will be difficult to trace back to the Internet but with so many sub-standard, outdated and potent drugs on sale this way, it would be surprising if there were no fatalities.'' 

The INCB expressed concern that the lack of age restrictions with regard to potential customers for these drugs could become ''a major source for abused prescription medications among children and adolescents.'' This is already the case in certain countries such as the United States, the INCB report says.

The authenticity and quality of the pharmaceuticals sold illicitly on the Internet is often questionable, the report says. ''In some cases, the drugs are even counterfeit,'' it says. ''In addition, purchasing these medications without a valid prescription is against the national law in almost all countries.'' 

The INCB plans to call for a consultation next month of concerned regional and international organisations such as Interpol, the World Customs Organisation, the World Health Organisation and the Universal Postal Union to counter the growing danger from supply of drugs through Internet orders. 

The experience of the Netherlands, which successfully clamped down on several illegal Internet pharmacy operations last year will be key to decisions on taking new measures. 

The Board wants countries to share information, and at the same time to choke off supply to unlicensed Internet pharmacies. National authorities must also step up awareness-raising activities with regard to the potential hazards of buying illicit drugs on the Internet, the report says. 

Kouame says a first need is to implement existing legislation. ''And Internet service providers must be in the picture if the law is to be enforced,'' he said.