CINCINNATI -- You have probably received e-mails from companies promising an easy way to get drugs sent right to your doorstep.

But according to authorities, there are a number of online pharmacies that operate illegally, dispensing drugs with no prescriptions and no questions asked.

For drug addicts, these illegal sites offer an easy way to get ahold of highly abused medication such as hydrocodone and Xanax.

"It's like a candy list, going down the list," said one recovering addict.

But many of these companies operate outside of the U.S., and authorities say that the pills they distribute may not be what you would expect to get from your familiar neighborhood pharmacy.

"This may be made in a bathtub in Guadalajara, Mexico, somewhere under unsanitary conditions," said Cmdr. John Burke, who heads the Warren County Drug Task Force and is president of the National Association of Drug Diversion Investigators.

News 5 watched as the task force targeted an online pharmacy that sold drugs with no prescriptions needed.

"Anyone can do it, it walks you right through the steps," said Laura Riley of the task force.

Burke said buyers should be aware.

"It's illegal for the operation, and it's illegal for the person who's receiving those drugs because they don't have them pursuant to a legal prescription,” Burke said.

One recovering drug addict told News 5 he has been buying drugs on line for three years with no problem.

"No doctor has to be involved whatsoever," he said. "You just make a simple phone call, place your order (and) then they send it out to you."

For drug addicts, it’s an easy way to get high. For drug dealers, it is an easy way to make money.

"You can get 60 Oxycontins for $300,” said the recovering addict. “It's got a street value of about $4,500 if you just wanted to buy it and sell it and not take any.”

"There's millions of these dosage units that come through the mail every day that are totally illegal," said Burke, adding that many people have the drugs shipped with charges on delivery.

Steve Flint, of Lebanon, started getting strange packages addressed to his son Austin, a Marine who was away at boot camp.

"We had packages turn up here, C.O.D, for lots of money that we knew weren't his packages," he said. “(We) found out they were actually prescription drugs trying to be delivered here in Austin's name."

Investigators arrested 20-year-old Jeremy Shortridge when he showed up at a West Chester FedEx store to pick up a delivery of online drugs. They say Shortridge used the card to purchase Xanax and hydrocodone.

"It could happen in rural America, it could happen in the smallest town and it could happen in the biggest city, because you get on the Internet and, if FedEx or UPS or the delivery people, U.S. Mail, delivers to your area, which they do, this can certainly be accomplished," Burke said.

Investigators, like Burke, said that these illegal online prescription companies are difficult to bust, as they often change phone numbers and web addresses.