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Detectives from the City of London Police have asked the public for help to find a woman they believe has been involved in the online sale of counterfeit weight loss medicines after its investigation culminated in the seizure of £32,000 worth of alleged fake drugs. 

Christina Parfitt, 40, is wanted for questioning in connection with the illegal sale of the medicines “at significantly reduced prices” after City of London Police’s intellectual property crime unit seized what they believe to be counterfeit Mounjaro, Ozempic and Retatrutide from the premises of a Lancashire-based fulfilment company on Thursday.

The police said the products were allegedly shipped via the company “which provides storage and distribution services” before being sold to the public “without any health and safety consultation”.

The weight loss medication Retatrutide is still being trialled and has not been approved by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency.

“Further analysis of the items uncovered that the products contained more than four times the recommended dose,” said City of London Police, who revealed “an organised crime group” was involved in the sale and distribution of the medicines without a prescription or licence from the MHRA.

“Members of the public must be aware of the very real dangers of purchasing counterfeit or unlicenced medicines online,” said investigating officer detective constable Jason Theobald from the City of London Police’s intellectual property crime unit.

“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.”