£2 Million Worth of Counterfeit Weight Loss Pens Seized by MHRA and West Midlands Police

On 14 October, authorities confiscated over 12,000 counterfeit retatrutide and tirzepatide pens, along with packaging for approximately 30,000 additional products, during a raid at an industrial unit in Birmingham.

Tim Duffield, Head of Intelligence at the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) Criminal Enforcement Unit, stated, “We are tackling the organised criminal gangs whose illegal trade in unauthorised medicines puts people at risk of serious harm.”

He further elaborated that officers seized around £2 million worth of counterfeit weight loss medications from an unsanitary warehouse located on an industrial estate. “These products have not been assessed for safety, quality or effectiveness, and there is no guarantee of what they contain or whether they have been contaminated with harmful substances,” Duffield warned.

Public Health Risks from Unauthorised Medicines

It is important to note that retatrutide has not been authorised for use in the UK. Products marketed as retatrutide outside of legitimate clinical trials are being distributed illegally and may pose serious risks to public health.

The MHRA strongly advises the public against purchasing weight-loss medications from unregulated sources. Individuals considering GLP-1 treatments are urged to consult with a healthcare professional and to obtain medicines exclusively from a registered pharmacy with a valid prescription.

The October raid marks the latest in a series of MHRA operations aimed at removing unauthorised GLP-1 weight loss medications from circulation. Previous operations include:

• In May 2026, two individuals were arrested following a raid on a country estate suspected of being used for the manufacture, assembly, and distribution of unlicensed weight-loss medications. Approximately 12,000 doses were recovered, along with packaging materials and suspected pharmaceutical substances.
• In February 2026, around 2,000 doses of unauthorised weight-loss medications awaiting dispatch were seized, along with manufacturing equipment, suspected pharmaceutical ingredients, packaging, and commercial vehicles.
• In October 2025, the MHRA dismantled the first illicit weight-loss medicine production facility discovered in the UK, seizing 5,000 unauthorised retatrutide and tirzepatide pens, thousands of empty pens, and raw chemical ingredients, representing the potential for tens of thousands of doses.

Resources for Safe Online Purchases

The MHRA has established the #FakeMeds website, which offers valuable guidance and advice for consumers to stay safe when purchasing medications online. Anyone experiencing side effects from a medicine is encouraged to consult their doctor, pharmacist, or nurse and report the incident directly to the MHRA Yellow Card scheme.

The Role of the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit

The Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) serves as the MHRA’s in-house law enforcement body, spearheading the Agency’s response to medicinal crimes. Its strategic mission is to safeguard the public, maintain confidence in regulation, and uphold the rule of law by preventing, disrupting, and prosecuting offences as necessary.

The CEU employs a comprehensive suite of tools and capabilities, including intelligence analysis, online disruption tactics, covert techniques, and asset recovery, to combat criminal threats to public health in the UK. It collaborates closely with police and law enforcement agencies both domestically and internationally.

The MHRA itself is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK, ensuring their efficacy and safety. Its operations are underpinned by rigorous and evidence-based assessments to ensure that the benefits outweigh any associated risks.

As an executive agency of the Department of Health and Social Care, the MHRA remains committed to protecting public health through vigilant regulation and enforcement.

For media enquiries, please contact the newscentre@mhra.gov.uk, or call 020 3080 7651.