MHRA Raids Northampton Site Seizing Thousands of Illegal Weight-Loss Drug Pens
In October, the MHRA conducted a raid in Northampton that resulted in the seizure of more than 2,000 unlicensed retatrutide and tirzepatide pens, tens of thousands of empty pens, raw ingredients, packaging and manufacturing equipment, and about £20,000 in cash linked to trafficking. The total value of the confiscated medication was estimated at £250,000.
Alluvi Healthcare Limited, the company linked to the raid, continues to sell counterfeit retatrutide through Telegram channels. Its website was still active as of 5 December, with one Telegram channel reporting about 3,000 subscribers. Payments for Alluvi products are processed via Stripe through an e-commerce entity named Nutri Collectiv, with orders disguised as "weight loss plans" to mask illicit purchases.
Retatrutide is an experimental drug that has not yet been approved, making its sale or use illegal. Experts warn that unregulated ingredients, improper dosing, and lack of sterilisation can pose significant safety risks.
Observations show Alluvi-branded retatrutide pens advertised as in stock after the MHRA raid, and multiple Telegram channels with thousands of followers discuss and purchase these products. Despite the raid, no arrests have been reported.
Channel 4 investigation found impersonation of weight-loss influencers on TikTok, where hijacked accounts with millions of followers were used to promote illicit weight-loss drugs. Legitimate accounts were shut down, and five affiliates reported losing their accounts.
Concerns have also been raised regarding the winter storage of illicit weight-loss drugs. Experts warn that exposure to extreme cold can damage the protein structure and potency of these drugs, potentially making them unsafe after thawing.
The MHRA declined to comment on these developments.
