A large-scale illegal manufacturing facility producing unlicensed weight loss jabs has been dismantled in Northampton, in what authorities believe is the largest-ever global seizure of its kind.
The warehouse, uncovered by officers from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU), was being used to manufacture, package and distribute unlicensed and potentially dangerous medicines, including injectable pens containing retatrutide and tirzepatide.
Both are prescription-only medicines in the UK and should only be used under clinical supervision.
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Supported by Northamptonshire Police, MHRA officers seized more than 2,000 unlicensed pens ready for dispatch, tens of thousands of empty pens intended for filling, raw chemical ingredients, sophisticated manufacturing equipment, and around £20,000 in cash believed to be linked to illegal medicines trafficking.
The estimated street value of the seized products exceeds £250,000.
The two-day operation took place at an industrial estate on the outskirts of Northampton. According to the MHRA, it is the first illicit production site for weight-loss medicines to be discovered in the UK.
Andy Morling, head of the MHRA's Criminal Enforcement Unit, said the raid marked a major success in disrupting the illegal trade. 'This seizure shows the lengths these criminals will go to for profit,’ he said.
'Taking out the first illicit weight-loss medicine manufacturing facility found in the UK is a landmark result for the MHRA and a major blow to the illegal trade,’ Mr Morling added.
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‘These products are untested, unauthorised and potentially deadly. This is an illicit global market that endangers patients, puts big money in the pockets of organised criminals and undermines legitimate healthcare.’
Health secretary Wes Streeting also welcomed the outcome. 'This is a victory in the fight against the shameless criminals who are putting lives at risk by peddling dangerous and illegal weight-loss jabs to make a quick buck,’ he said.
'These unregulated products, made with no regard for safety or quality, posed a major risk to unwitting customers.'
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The MHRA has emphasised that prescription medicines should only be obtained from registered pharmacies with a valid prescription, not from unregistered online sellers or unofficial sources where there is no guarantee of safety, quality or authenticity.
It also offers advice on buying medicines safely online via its #FakeMeds website, and has urged anyone experiencing a side effect to speak with a healthcare professional and report it through the Yellow Card scheme.
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