The seizure of thousands retatrutide and tirzepatide pens with a street value of over £250,000 was made at an industrial estate on the outskirts of Northampton.

Secretary of state for health and social care, Wes Streeting, said: ‘This is a victory in the fight against the shameless criminals who are putting lives at risk by peddling dangerous and illegal weight loss jabs to make a quick buck. 

‘These unregulated products, made with no regard for safety or quality, posed a major risk to unwitting customers. 

"My message is clear: don't buy weight loss medications from unregulated sources. Talk to your GP, seek NHS advice, and don't line the pockets of criminals who don't care about your health. Safe, appropriate, licensed obesity drugs can greatly benefit those in need if taken under medical supervision, and I urge people to only purchase and use them with the approval and oversight of medics and pharmacists.'

Andy Morling, head of the MHRA's CEU, said: ‘Taking out the first illicit weight loss medicine manufacturing facility found in the UK is a landmark result for the MHRA and a major blow to the illegal trade. These products are untested, unauthorised, and potentially deadly. By taking this organised criminal network out of operation and stopping tens of thousands of potentially fatal products from entering circulation, we've prevented a serious risk to public health.'