FOI release

Illegal Weight Loss Drugs

Case reference FOI2025/01390

Received 1 September 2025

Published 22 September 2025

Request

The purpose of this request is to gather data on the number of arrests linked to the distribution, sale or possession of illegal or otherwise unregulated weight loss drugs or products (e.g. those not licensed for use in the UK). This request also covers cases where otherwise licensed weight loss products are being distributed, supplied, or administered by individuals or businesses not legally authorised to do so (e.g. beauty salons or unlicensed practitioners). Specifically, I am seeking information on the following from January 2024 up until the most recent month available, e.g. August 2025: 1. The total number of arrests or recorded offences in relation to the alleged distribution, supply, or possession of illegal or unregulated weight loss drugs and/or products - including cases where licensed products are distributed, supplied, or administered by individuals or businesses not legally authorised to do so (e.g. salons or unlicensed practitioners). 2. The current number of ongoing investigations into the distribution, supply, or possession of such weight loss drugs and/or products - including where the seller or administrator is not licensed to do so. For clarity, I understand that cases may be recorded under a variety of descriptions or codes. To assist in locating the requested information, the following keywords and terms may be relevant: "GLP-1", "weight loss", "slimming", "Mounjaro", "Ozempic", "Wegovy", "Retatrutide", "Semgalutide", etc. Possible offence categories (examples, not exhaustive): Administering a poison (e.g. Offences Against the Person Act 1861, s.23/s.24), supplying a prescription-only medicine (Human Medicines Regulations 2012), or supplying an unauthorised medicine (Human Medicines Regulations 2012). If you use internal classification codes for recording such incidents, please apply those that most closely relate to the above offences. I confirm that I am not seeking any personal or identifying information about individuals involved in these cases. I would like you to provide the information in the following format: Please provide the information in electronic format, preferably as an Excel spreadsheet or CSV file. Please avoid sending PDFs or Word documents if possible. If you are unable to provide the specified information: If it is not possible to provide the information requested due to the information exceeding the cost of compliance limits identified in Section 12, please provide advice and assistance, under the Section 16 obligations of the Act, as to how I can refine my request. If you are unable to provide the specified information exactly as requested, please provide any data you have that is relevant to the request and explain why the other information cannot be provided. If you have any questions or require further clarification, please contact me, preferably via email at: courtney.cole@journalistic.org or by phone at 07596385095. I appreciate your assistance with this request and look forward to your response within the statutory timeframe of 20 working days (by 30th of September 2025).

Response

Nil Occurrences

Documents

There are no documents for this release.

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