Illicit Weight Loss Drug Supplier Alluvi Persists with Unlicensed Sales After High Profile MHRA Raid

A company linked to the globe’s largest known seizure of illicit weight-loss medications remains active in the UK market despite regulatory intervention. Alluvi, the firm in question, continues to distribute unlicensed drugs to thousands of customers even after the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) raided a facility in Northampton in October. The operation resulted in the confiscation of more than two thousand counterfeit, unlicensed retatrutide and tirzepatide injection pens.

Retatrutide is an experimental weight-loss drug under development by US pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly. It targets several gut hormones but is currently undergoing clinical trials and has not received regulatory approval anywhere in the world. Its sale to consumers is illegal. Nonetheless, unauthorised and counterfeit versions are widely promoted on social media channels, with Alluvi identified as a primary supplier.

The October enforcement action saw the MHRA seize tens of thousands of empty dosing pens intended for filling, substantial quantities of raw chemical materials, and sophisticated manufacturing and packaging equipment. The total value of unlicensed medication confiscated is estimated at £250,000. Investigators also found approximately £20,000 in cash linked to suspected proceeds of medicine trafficking. No arrests have yet been made in relation to the case.

Despite this, Alluvi maintains an active presence on several Telegram channels, some with thousands of subscribers, where it advertises counterfeit retatrutide pens as fully stocked. Its website was also live as of early December, listing a retatrutide bundle labelled “for R and D only” and priced at £339.99. Instructions on gradual dosing are published, but these do not address the substantial risks of using unlicensed, unregulated medical products. A recent account from one buyer described experiencing severe gastrointestinal symptoms, energy instability, and dehydration after using the products.

The supply chain supporting these operations is highly organised. Payments for Alluvi products are often processed via an e-commerce entity named Nutri Collectiv, with transactions masked as legitimate fitness programmes and handled through established payment platforms. This approach complicates efforts to detect illicit medical sales.

Concerns regarding the safety profile of these products are growing, particularly with the onset of colder weather. Improper storage conditions during winter months can compromise the efficacy and safety of hormone-based medications. Health experts warn that exposure to extreme temperatures may damage the integrity of these drugs, rendering them both ineffective and potentially dangerous.

There has also been evidence of online manipulation. Reports indicate that individuals criticising Alluvi have had their social media accounts taken over. Impersonation tactics have led to authentic influencer accounts being suspended while fraudulent ones remain active, thus silencing critical voices within the weight-loss community.

The MHRA declined to comment on the ongoing investigation, but the persistence of Alluvi’s operation highlights the complexity of tackling unlicensed pharmaceutical sales in the digital age. The public must remain aware of the significant health risks posed by using unfinished clinical-trial drugs sourced outside of regulated medical environments.