Country estate exposed as huge weight loss drugs factory: Two men, 29, are arrested after UK’s largest ever seizure of illegal jabs
In the UK’s biggest-ever seizure of illegal needles, a country property has been revealed as a major weight-loss drug factory.
Two people, both 29 years old, were arrested in connection with the large-scale operation.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the help of Northamptonshire Police, raided a property near Northampton on Thursday night.
Inside, officers discovered a staggering 12,000 doses of unlicensed weight loss drugs, as well as a ‘significant quantity’ of packaging material and what were alleged to be pharmaceutical substances used in the illegal manufacture of the products.
The MHRA said the property was believed to be used to manufacture, compound and distribute unlicensed weight loss drugs, including retatrutide and tirzepatide, as well as peptide products.
While tirzepatide is often found in the popular Mounjaro vaccines, retatrutide is a much more experimental drug and is currently being tested in clinical trials.
The agency added that this was the largest seizure of such products ever.
Pictures on the site show dozens of cardboard boxes and containers full of needles scattered throughout messy rooms.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), with the help of Northamptonshire Police, raided a property near Northampton on Thursday night where they discovered a staggering 12,000 doses of the unlicensed weight loss drug.
Pictures on the site show dozens of cardboard boxes and containers full of needles scattered throughout messy rooms
Both men were arrested on suspicion of offenses under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012.
Andy Morling, head of the MHRA’s corrections unit, said: ‘Last night’s hugely successful operation once again demonstrates the MHRA’s unwavering determination to ensure there is no hiding place for those who cynically risk the public’s health for profit.
‘Drug regulations are not optional; It exists to protect people.
‘Therefore, we continue to target traders who attempt to circumvent this protection; we are disabling the infrastructure that supports them and creating a hostile environment for their exploitative and harmful trade.
‘I am confident that dismantling this illegal production facility will prevent serious public harm.’
