Authorities in Northampton have confiscated over 2,000 counterfeit weight-loss injections from an illicit facility, estimating the haul’s value at £250,000.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Northamptonshire Police conducted a joint operation, uncovering what is believed to be the largest seizure of weight loss drugs globally.
These unlicensed injections contained tirzepatide, a primary component of Mounjaro and Zepbound, exclusively manufactured by Eli Lilly in the U.S., along with retratutide, an experimental weight-loss substance still in the trial phase and not authorized for use. Eli Lilly cautioned that consumers purchasing these illegal injections risked ingesting unknown substances.
In addition to the seized injections, authorities found raw materials, thousands of empty pens for filling, and £20,000 in cash.
An MHRA spokesperson described the discovery as the first illegal weight loss drug manufacturing site in the UK, marking a significant global interception of illicit weight-loss medications.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting praised the operation, emphasizing the dangers posed by criminals selling harmful weight loss injections for profit. He urged the public to avoid purchasing such products from unregulated sources, advocating consultation with healthcare professionals instead.
Andy Morling, head of the MHRA’s criminal enforcement unit, highlighted the risks associated with untested weight-loss products and emphasized the importance of obtaining prescription medications only from licensed sources.
No arrests have been made in connection with the seizure, as reported by Pharmacy Magazine.
Weight-loss injections are strictly available through the NHS for eligible patients meeting specific criteria.
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