City of London Police are hunting a woman wanted in connection with the illegal sale of counterfeit weight loss drugs after more than £32,000 worth of the medicines were seized.
Detectives are appealing for information on 40-year-old Christina Parfitt, who is being sought as part of an investigation into an organised crime group accused of selling fake and unlicensed drugs online at heavily discounted prices.
The force’s Police Intellectual Property Crime Unit (PIPCU) raided a Lancashire-based fulfilment centre on 28 August, seizing what officers believe to be counterfeit Ozempic, Mounjaro and another drug, Retatrutide. Detectives say the products contained four times the recommended dose, posing serious health risks.
Retatrutide is still in phase three clinical trials and has not been approved by any regulator worldwide.
Detective Constable Jason Theobald, of PIPCU, said: “Members of the public must be aware of the very real dangers of purchasing counterfeit or unlicenced medicines such as Mounjaro or Ozempic online. Not only are they potentially unsafe, but they could also be sold without the necessary medical advice and therefore are extremely dangerous to the public.
“Anyone with information or who may have purchased counterfeit medicine, is encouraged to contact the City of London Police immediately.”
Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Ozempic (semaglutide) are prescription-only medicines in the UK, used for weight management and certain medical conditions. They should only be obtained following a consultation with a registered healthcare professional.
Police say the products were being shipped through the Lancashire warehouse without any health checks or licensing from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA).
The force has warned that buying fake or unregulated versions of the drugs could pose severe health risks. Patients are normally screened for conditions such as diabetes, pregnancy or interactions with other medicines before being prescribed the drugs.
