Erectile dysfunction medicines remain one of the most frequently seized illegally traded medicines in the UK, with yearly seizures more than doubling since 2022.

Between 2021 and 2025, the MHRA's Criminal Enforcement Unit seized around 19.5 million doses of erectile dysfunction medicines, including 4.4 million in 2025 alone, working closely with Border Force to intercept shipments and disrupt organised criminal networks. 

Many of the pills seized were illegally sold online and contained active ingredients sildenafil, tadalafil, vardenafil and avanafil.

Unlicensed erectile dysfunction medicines can be especially dangerous for people with heart disease, high blood pressure, or those taking other medications, as they can raise the risk of heart attack, stroke and dangerously low blood pressure.

Dr Zubir Ahmed, health innovation and safety minister, said: ‘There should be no shame in talking about erectile dysfunction, but stigma and embarrassment are being exploited by criminals selling fake medicines that can be deadly. 

‘We're cracking down on crime and as a doctor, my message is simple: speak to your GP or pharmacist. They can offer safe, effective treatments and confidential advice, taking into account your health and any other medicines you take.'

Andy Morling, head of the MHRA's Criminal Enforcement Unit, added: ‘These seizures show the sheer scale of the illegal market for erectile dysfunction medicines in the UK – and the risks people are taking without realising.

‘Any medicine not authorised for sale in the UK can be unsafe or ineffective and there is no way of knowing what is in them or the negative health effects they can have. These pills may look genuine, but many are potentially dangerous. These products may contain no active ingredient, the wrong dose, hidden drugs or toxic ingredients.'

The MHRA's Criminal Enforcement Unit is also stepping up action against online sellers. Working with internet service providers, they disrupted more than 1,500 websites and social media accounts illegally selling medical products to the public in 2025 and removed more than 1,200 social media posts during the year.