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Fake Weight Loss Jab Warning as Illegal Medicine Seizures Soar in UK
Newly released data has revealed a deeply concerning surge in the seizure of counterfeit and unlicensed weight loss injections across the United Kingdom, raising significant alarms about patient safety and the expansion of a dangerous black market for these sought-after treatments.
Sharp Increase in Seizures Points to Growing Domestic Problem
Figures obtained through Freedom of Information requests show that the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) seized more than 6,500 falsified or unlicensed weight loss injections over the past three years. The scale of the problem has escalated dramatically, with seizures skyrocketing from 407 in 2023 to a staggering 5,851 in 2025 alone.
These confiscated products often claim to contain active ingredients like semaglutide, tirzepatide, and retatrutide, which are found in popular branded weight loss medications such as Wegovy, Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Mounjaro. Alarmingly, the data indicates that significant quantities of these illegal medicines are being discovered through inland investigations rather than at UK borders, suggesting a flourishing domestic black market.
Public Health at Risk from Unverified Medications
The rise in seizures coincides with soaring demand for weight loss treatments. A recent study from University College London estimated that approximately 1.6 million adults in England, Wales, and Scotland used weight-loss medications between early 2024 and early 2025. Researchers found that one in seven users were taking drugs not licensed for this purpose, with many spending hundreds of pounds privately in pursuit of weight loss.
Ahsan Bhatti, a pharmacist and owner of the online pharmacy Quick Meds, which obtained the MHRA data, issued a stark warning about the dangers of these counterfeit injections. "The MHRA's latest seizure figures are deeply concerning," he stated. "These non-compliant injectables are a genuine risk to patient safety as we are unable to verify how they've been manufactured, whether they've been stored safely, let alone whether the dosage is even correct."
Mr Bhatti emphasised that fake or unlicensed injections may contain incorrect or dangerous ingredients, deliver inconsistent or unsafe doses, or be contaminated due to poor manufacturing standards. He strongly advised the public against purchasing weight loss jabs from unverified sources on social media platforms, messaging apps, or dubious websites.
How to Identify Potentially Dangerous Counterfeit Products
Pharmacist Ahsan Bhatti has outlined several key warning signs that could indicate a weight loss injection is fake or unlicensed:
- No Eligibility Checks: Regulated weight loss medications always require a prescription. Be wary if no clinical consultation or health screening is involved.
- Suspiciously Low Prices: If the price seems significantly lower than average market rates, it is likely too good to be true.
- Lack of Registered UK Pharmacist Involvement: You should be able to verify that the pharmacy is registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC).
- Packaging Errors or Missing Information: Legitimate medications come in high-quality, branded packaging with an information leaflet. Look out for blurry text, spelling mistakes, or poor-quality logos.
- Unofficial Payment Methods: Requests for direct bank transfers instead of secure online payment portals are a major red flag.
- Poor Shipping Practices: Products shipped without temperature control, such as cool packs, may not have been stored correctly, compromising their safety and efficacy.
"The results are simply not worth the risk of injecting unidentified medication into your body," Mr Bhatti cautioned. "It has the potential to cause no end of harm to your health. Ultimately, the only real way to ensure you're in receipt of a safe and legitimate product is by ordering GLP-1 medication from registered, regulated pharmacy providers."
He urged anyone who suspects sellers of providing counterfeit goods to report them immediately to the MHRA via its Yellow Card scheme. The Independent has contacted the Department of Health and Social Care and the MHRA for further comment on these alarming developments.
