An investigation by the Guardian has uncovered that a firm connected to one of the world's largest seizures of illicit weight-loss medications is still actively selling unlicensed drugs to consumers. This comes just over a month after a significant raid by the UK's medicines regulator.
Major Raid Uncovers Illicit Manufacturing Operation
In October, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) executed a raid on a facility in Northampton. During the operation, officers confiscated a vast haul of illegal products and manufacturing equipment. The seizure included more than 2,000 counterfeit and unlicensed pens containing the experimental drugs retatrutide and tirzepatide, all bearing the brand name Alluvi.
The MHRA's haul, with an estimated street value of £250,000, represented one of the largest single global seizures of trafficked weight-loss drugs. Alongside the finished pens, authorities found tens of thousands of empty pens awaiting filling, raw chemical ingredients, sophisticated packaging machinery, and approximately £20,000 in cash suspected to be linked to the illicit trade. To date, no arrests have been made in connection with the raid.
Business Continues Unabated on Social Media
Despite the high-profile enforcement action, the company linked to the products, Alluvi Healthcare Limited, has continued its sales operations. The Guardian found the company promoting and selling replicas of retatrutide through multiple Telegram channels, one boasting nearly 3,000 subscribers.
Remarkably, on 27 October—shortly after news of the raid broke—one channel advertised that Alluvi-branded retatrutide pens were "still fully in stock via telegram". As of 5 December, the company's website remained active, offering bundles of the unlicensed drug for sale. Evidence suggests payments are processed via an e-commerce platform called Nutri Collectiv, with transactions disguised as purchases for a "weight loss plan" to avoid detection.
The investigation also revealed aggressive tactics to silence critics. A Channel 4 probe found that influencers who spoke out against fake weight-loss drugs had their TikTok accounts cloned and reported, leading to the legitimate accounts being shut down while impersonator profiles remained active.
Severe Health Risks and Winter Storage Dangers
Purchasing these drugs illegally carries significant dangers. Retatrutide is an experimental injection developed by Eli Lilly that remains in clinical trials and is not approved for consumer use. Counterfeit versions are unregulated, meaning they may contain incorrect ingredients, wrong dosages, or be improperly sterilised.
One anonymous buyer of an Alluvi pen reported suffering severe gastrointestinal problems, unstable energy levels, and dehydration. Experts warn that contaminated or incorrectly dosed injections can lead to infections, dangerous blood sugar crashes, pancreatitis, and cardiovascular issues.
Risks are compounded during winter, as improper storage in cold temperatures can damage the sensitive protein structure of these drugs. Jason Murphy, head of pharmacy at Chemist4U, cautioned that freezing can render medications ineffective and unsafe. "If you believe your weight-loss injection has been frozen, dispose of it immediately," he advised.
The MHRA declined to comment on the ongoing situation. Alluvi did not respond to requests for comment from the Guardian.
