Last year's seizures included almost 10 million doses of sedatives and sleeping pills, over four million doses of powerful painkillers, and more than four million doses of erectile dysfunction treatments.

The MHRA's Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU) also seized more than 5,000 illegally traded GLP-1 products, commonly marketed as ‘weight loss' medicines. The unit's work included dismantling a major illicit manufacturing facility, making and distributing unlicensed weight-loss jabs, during a raid on a warehouse in Northampton in October.

The CEU also worked with internet service providers to disrupt more than 1,500 websites and social media accounts illegally selling medical products to the public and removed more than 1,200 social media posts during the year.

The MHRA has been working closely with online industry partners to block the illegal sale and supply of medicines in the UK. In 2025, an AI algorithm developed with eBay, successfully identified and blocked more than two million violations of the company's policies on prescription only and non-compliant over the counter (OTC) medicines, before the products could be offered for sale to the public.

Andy Morling, MHRA deputy director, enforcement, said: ‘Criminals see this trade as easy money, but our relentless efforts are making it increasingly difficult for them to operate. Our focus last year, as always, has been firmly on stopping these dangerous products reaching the public in the first place.

‘I would urge everyone to think very carefully before buying powerful medicines online. If something looks or feels wrong, it probably is. Products sold illegally online may contain harmful substances or the incorrect dosage, and either of these could seriously damage your health. Always use a registered pharmacy – your safety is not worth the risk.'

As part of a crackdown on criminal profits, the MHRA's financial investigators also denied criminals access to more than £2.1m in assets linked to the illegal trade in medicines.