Largest Global Raid on Illicit Weight Loss Facility Still Selling Unlicensed Drugs
A month after a major crackdown on an illicit weight loss facility, the company behind the operation is still peddling unlicensed drugs to unsuspecting customers. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) raided the site in October, seizing tens of thousands of empty pens, raw chemical ingredients, and thousands of counterfeit retatrutide and tirzepatide branded Alluvi pens.
Despite the raid, Alluvi Healthcare Limited is still actively selling its products on multiple Telegram channels, one of which has nearly 3,000 subscribers. The company's website remains operational as well, offering a "retatrutide 40mg x2 Bundle (R&D Only)" for ยฃ339.99. This product advises customers to follow a gradual dosing plan to minimize side effects.
The sale of unlicensed weight loss drugs is extremely risky, with the potential to cause infections, blood sugar crashes, pancreatitis, and cardiovascular side effects. Using an experimental clinical trial drug outside legitimate medical settings is unsafe and potentially life-threatening.
One customer who purchased an Alluvi pen reported severe gastrointestinal issues, unstable energy levels, and dehydration. A video posted on Telegram showed a Royal Mail employee assuring buyers that orders would be scanned in and delivered within 24 hours.
Experts warn that the winter months pose additional risks when it comes to storing weight loss injections due to colder temperatures affecting storage conditions. "These drugs are made from living organisms and are highly sensitive to temperature variations," said Jason Murphy, a weight loss expert and head of pharmacy at Chemist4U. "Extremely cold temperatures or freezing can damage their protein structure, reduce their medicinal effect, and potentially make them unsafe to use even after thawing."
The MHRA declined to comment on the situation.
A month after a major crackdown on an illicit weight loss facility, the company behind the operation is still peddling unlicensed drugs to unsuspecting customers. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) raided the site in October, seizing tens of thousands of empty pens, raw chemical ingredients, and thousands of counterfeit retatrutide and tirzepatide branded Alluvi pens.
Despite the raid, Alluvi Healthcare Limited is still actively selling its products on multiple Telegram channels, one of which has nearly 3,000 subscribers. The company's website remains operational as well, offering a "retatrutide 40mg x2 Bundle (R&D Only)" for ยฃ339.99. This product advises customers to follow a gradual dosing plan to minimize side effects.
The sale of unlicensed weight loss drugs is extremely risky, with the potential to cause infections, blood sugar crashes, pancreatitis, and cardiovascular side effects. Using an experimental clinical trial drug outside legitimate medical settings is unsafe and potentially life-threatening.
One customer who purchased an Alluvi pen reported severe gastrointestinal issues, unstable energy levels, and dehydration. A video posted on Telegram showed a Royal Mail employee assuring buyers that orders would be scanned in and delivered within 24 hours.
Experts warn that the winter months pose additional risks when it comes to storing weight loss injections due to colder temperatures affecting storage conditions. "These drugs are made from living organisms and are highly sensitive to temperature variations," said Jason Murphy, a weight loss expert and head of pharmacy at Chemist4U. "Extremely cold temperatures or freezing can damage their protein structure, reduce their medicinal effect, and potentially make them unsafe to use even after thawing."
The MHRA declined to comment on the situation.