{"id":281084,"date":"2026-02-12T21:27:07","date_gmt":"2026-02-12T21:27:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/281084\/"},"modified":"2026-02-12T21:27:07","modified_gmt":"2026-02-12T21:27:07","slug":"investigation-launched-into-sale-of-illegal-weight-loss-medication-in-wrexham-and-flintshire","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/nz\/281084\/","title":{"rendered":"Investigation launched into sale of illegal weight-loss medication in Wrexham and Flintshire"},"content":{"rendered":"

News<\/a> \u2022
\n February 12, 2026 at 4:21 pm <\/p>\n

An investigation has been launched into illegal weight-loss medication allegedly being advertised online and sold at beauty salons across Wrexham and Flintshire.<\/p>\n

North Wales Police have executed warrants at three premises to date, where suspected Retatrutide \u2013 a medication not licensed in the UK \u2013 and other suspected counterfeit medications purporting to be Tirzepatide (Mounjaro) and Semaglutide (Ozempic) have been recovered.<\/p>\n

Three arrests have been made on suspicion of fraud by false representation.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe use of weight-loss medication has soared in recent years, with self-administered injections available on prescription following a consultation with a qualified healthcare professional.\u201d<\/p>\n

A spokesperson for the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said: \u201cRetatrutide is in clinical development and has not been approved for UK use.<\/p>\n

\u201cOutside of authorised clinical trials, any products being sold in the UK that claim to contain Retatrutide (and they may not) are being sold and supplied outside the legal supply chain and are potentially dangerous to your health.<\/p>\n

\u201cMost authorised weight loss medicines are prescription-only, meaning that a consultation with a doctor or qualified healthcare professional must be conducted to assess the patient\u2019s suitability for the treatment. Prescription medicines is to be obtained from a registered pharmacy only against a valid prescription.<\/p>\n

\u201cSourcing weight loss medicines from unregulated suppliers significantly increases the risk of getting a product which is either falsified or not approved for use in UK.<\/p>\n

Products bought in this way will not have been tested to ensure they meet the MHRA\u2019s strict safety and quality standards and could expose patients to incorrect dosages or dangerous ingredients. The MHRA has previously issued warnings after seizures of falsified Ozempic pens were found to contain insulin.\u201d<\/p>\n

Rick Lines, Head of Substance Misuse Programme, Public Health Wales, added: \u201cPeople should be aware that buying prescription medicines from unofficial sources online or through social media groups carries serious risks.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere is no guarantee that what you think you are buying is what you are actually getting. Some drugs sold through unofficial sources \u2013 including those advertised for weight loss \u2013 may contain the wrong ingredients, dangerous levels of active substances, or no active ingredient at all.<\/p>\n

\u201cUsing prescription medicines without proper medical supervision can lead to serious side effects, unexpected interactions with other drugs, or harm to your health.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnyone concerned about their weight or any other health issue should speak to a GP or pharmacist for safe and trusted advice.\u201d<\/p>\n

Detective Inspector Claire Roberts added: \u201cThe investigation which is currently in its early stages is ongoing.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are urging people to be cautious and ask anyone with information in connection with the sale of counterfeit weight-loss medication to contact us.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can speak to us by calling 101 or via our website.\u201d<\/p>\n

Spotted something? Got a story? email us at news@wrexham.com<\/a><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

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Add Wrexham.com as a preferred source on Google to see more of our trusted coverage when you search.<\/p>\n

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