OBJECTIVE： To investigate the status quo and characteristics of manufacturing and selling counterfeit drugs in China， and to explore supervision strategies. METHODS： Among 7 500 counterfeit drugs cases investigated by public security organization during 2011-2015， 50 typical cases， which involved large amount of counterfeit drugs， large sum of money， a large number of people， a broad geographic area and huge social consequences， were selected and analyzed to put forward supervision strategies. RESULTS & CONCLUSIONS： Both the case number of counterfeit drug and the people involved were increasing rapidly in China， increasing from 500 cases and 900 persons in 2011 to 2 500 cases and 6 000 persons in 2015. Among 50 typical cases， involved counterfeit drugs mostly focused on sexual dysfunction drugs （23.8％）， cosmetic drugs and weight loss drugs （19.6％）， antitussive and antiasthmatic drugs （14.2％）， anti-rheumatism drugs （13.9％）， antidiabetic drugs （7.3％） and antitumor drugs （6.6％）， etc. There were 42 cases of online counterfeit drugs sales （84％）， 46 cases of counterfeit drugs production and sales activities without a license （92％） and 3 cases of illegal counterfeit drugs purchase service （6％）. On the whole， manufacturing and selling counterfeit drugs activity in China has the following features， such as large sum of money is involved； criminal activities are very covert； most victims are low-income workers. It is suggested to strengthen the supervision work and innovative approach； enhance the joint law enforcement of drug administration and public security organs，and promote connection between administrative law enforcement and criminal justice of drug cases； innovate information operation system and mechanism， and establish information sharing platform and reporting system； strengthen the monitoring of internet and cooperation with pharmaceutical companies； improve the publicity and deter criminals.