Organised Crime Groups Manufacturing Branded Counterfeit Weight-Loss Drugs

Organised crime gangs are now manufacturing their own branded weight-loss drugs, mimicking legitimate medicines, posing a significant and growing threat to public health, authorities warned today.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) announced the emergence of this new trend following its largest-ever seizure of trafficked weight-loss drugs. Andy Morling, head of the MHRA’s criminal enforcement unit, explained that criminals are investing in designing packaging and branding to sell products “purporting to be a genuine product.” He added, “That is an unusual model… That is undoubtedly organised crime. That is why we are working to eliminate that model before it takes a grip.”

A recent raid in Northampton uncovered tens of thousands of empty weight-loss pens, raw chemical ingredients, and over 2,000 unlicensed retatrutide and tirzepatide pens intended for distribution. The MHRA is currently analysing the seized products, but cautioned against speculation regarding their contents. The increasing demand for weight-loss medications like Wegovy has created a lucrative market for counterfeiters. Morling noted a “blurring of line in what is considered medicine and another cosmetic treatment available these days,” with some beauty parlours unknowingly selling these illicit drugs.

The agency reports that consumers are discovering these products through social media, word of mouth, and visits to local beauty salons. The MHRA has observed a progression in production methods, starting with counterfeit versions of established brands in spring 2023, then moving to raw ingredients for home mixing, and now to fully branded, sophisticated counterfeits. “They looked like genuine medicines but they are entirely unlicensed and illegal to sell in the UK,” Morling stated. The MHRA is prioritizing public safety by removing these products from the market and has a number of criminal investigations underway, as detailed on the MHRA website.

Authorities are continuing to analyse the seized materials and work to disrupt the supply chain, with a focus on identifying and prosecuting those involved in this increasingly sophisticated criminal activity.