Estimated £17.2m worth of illegal medicines seized by MHRA

Nearly eight million doses of illegal medicines have been seized by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in an operation to tackle the illegal online sale of medicines and medical devices, the regulator has said.

Working with law enforcement partners between December 2024 and May 2025, the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) seized 7.7 million doses of illicit medicines with an estimated value of £17.2m in ‘Operation Pangea’.

Among the products seized in the UK were various prescription-only medications, including powerful painkillers, anti-depressants and sleeping pills.

It also removed hundreds of illegal online listings, including 367 websites and social media accounts offering medical products to the public illegally, the MHRA said.

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The CEU also ‘coordinated several arrest operations and denied gangs access to almost £1.4m in criminal profits’.

According to medicines regulator, ‘Operation Pangea’ is coordinated by Interpol and involves around 90 countries in an annual global operation.

It brings together health regulators, customs authorities, law enforcement agencies and private sector partners to ‘tackle the threat posed by criminal networks operating in the global supply of illegal medicines’.

Andy Morling, who heads the MHRA’s CEU, said: ‘Some medicines can contain dangerous or illegal ingredients that could result in severe illness, addiction or even death.

‘Criminals trade in illegal medicines for no other reason than to make money. Not only are these people breaking the law, but they also have no regard for your health.

‘Buying medicines from unverified sources, online or elsewhere, means there is no guarantee that the products are safe or effective.’

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The MHRA is running a campaign to warn the public about fake medications and ‘dodgy’ websites and advises people to visit its FakeMeds website for tools and resources to help them purchase medication or medical devices safely online.

And it reminded the public to talk to their pharmacist, nurse or doctor if they suspect they are having a side effect from a medicine, and to report it directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

Mr Morling warned: ‘People also need to be aware that turning to illegal online sellers can leave them exposed to bank fraud and identity theft. This year’s operation is another example of how the MHRA and its international partners are joining forces to tackle the criminal gangs causing so much misery and harm around the world.’

A consultant pharmacist issued warnings on Tuesday about the risks to patients when obtaining weight loss medications online, at an exclusive virtual GP Pharmacy event hosted by The Pharmacist.

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In addition, the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI), which supports the UK’s trading standards profession, called on the government on earlier this month to take urgent action over unregulated treatments being given in unlicensed premises and by unqualified practitioners.

The National Pharmacy Association (NPA) said the reports resonated with concerns from pharmacists of patients accessing ‘high risk medications’, such as weight loss jabs, from unregulated sources.