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£2m of counterfeit weight-loss pens seized in Birmingham warehouse raid
Overview
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), alongside West Midlands Police, raided an industrial unit in Birmingham and seized over 12,000 counterfeit weight-loss pens worth an estimated £2m. The facility, described as a 'filthy warehouse', also contained packaging for around 30,000 additional products. The seized items included fake versions of retatrutide and tirzepatide, with officials warning that the unregulated drugs pose serious risks to public health.
Key points
- Over 12,000 counterfeit weight-loss pens estimated to be worth £2m were seized in Birmingham.
- The raid was conducted by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and West Midlands Police.
- The pens contained unauthorized and fake versions of weight-loss drugs retatrutide and tirzepatide.
- Packaging for approximately 30,000 extra products was also discovered at the industrial unit.
- Officials warned that unauthorized weight-loss drugs lack safety guarantees and pose risks of serious harm.