UK authorities have shut down a counterfeit weight-loss drug operation in Northampton, seizing illegal products worth more than £250,000.
The raid, led by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) with support from Northamptonshire police, uncovered thousands of empty injection pens, raw chemical ingredients, and over 2,000 unlicensed retatrutide and tirzepatide pens.
The secret factory, located on an industrial estate, was allegedly producing, packaging, and distributing potentially dangerous imitation weight-loss medicines on a large scale.
Retatrutide, developed by Eli Lilly, is not approved in the UK, while tirzepatide, sold as Mounjaro, is only available through the NHS under strict clinical criteria.
Health secretary Wes Streeting hailed the operation as “a victory in the fight against shameless criminals who are putting lives at risk,” warning the public to avoid buying slimming injections online or through unregulated sellers.
“These products were made with no regard for safety or quality,” he said.
“Don’t line the pockets of criminals. Speak to your GP and only use licensed medicines under medical supervision.”
The MHRA has repeatedly warned that illegal weight-loss drugs sold via social media, beauty salons, or fake pharmacies may contain toxins or unknown substances.
The head of the MHRA’s criminal enforcement unit, Andy Morling, said the bust highlights the global criminal trade in counterfeit medicines.
“There are no guarantees about their contents. We will continue to pursue and dismantle the networks that put profit before patient safety.”
The raid is part of the MHRA’s ongoing efforts to crack down on the booming black market for weight-loss products.
