London, UK – November 5, 2025 – ITV News has uncovered a dangerous black market for counterfeit weight-loss drugs known as “skinny jabs,” with fake Mounjaro injections being smuggled into the UK from China. These illicit products, often marketed as safe and effective, have already been linked to hospitalizations and one incident where a woman had to be treated in intensive care. The investigation reveals that this black market is growing at a pace more dangerous than even the illegal drug trade.
What Happened
A recent ITV News investigation has exposed a thriving underground market for counterfeit Mounjaro, a prescription-only weight-loss injection manufactured by Eli Lilly. These counterfeit injections, often imported from Shenzhen, China, are being sold to unsuspecting buyers, who believe they are receiving genuine weight-loss medications.
The illicit supply chain has been connected to several hospitalizations, including an incident in Bournemouth, where a fire in student accommodation was caused by a misguided cleaning hack involving an air fryer, and in Selby, where multiple women fell seriously ill after using unlicensed weight-loss injections. One woman’s oesophagus ruptured after she vomited so violently, requiring immediate medical attention.
The Role of Online Dealers
The investigation found that Dale Dennis, a man from Yorkshire, is promoting and selling these unlicensed weight-loss injections on social media. Dennis, who runs multiple businesses from Koh Samui, Thailand, has garnered thousands of followers through his luxury lifestyle posts and his extensive network of global “ambassadors.”
ITV News traced one of Dennis’s shipments to a laboratory in Shenzhen, where unregulated weight-loss medications are being produced and sold. After contacting Dennis and placing an order, an undercover journalist discovered that the products were being sent from Goole, Yorkshire, Dennis’s hometown. This discovery exposed a dangerous link between unregulated overseas suppliers and buyers in the UK.
Counterfeit Mounjaro Injections
In one particularly disturbing finding, an undercover journalist purchased counterfeit Mounjaro injection pens through a WhatsApp account linked to Dennis’s network. The pens, which were marketed as genuine Mounjaro, were found to contain semaglutide — a different weight-loss drug — in dosages 20 times higher than what is considered safe.
Professor Perdita Barran from the University of Manchester described the results as “sickening,” warning that the incorrect dosage could lead to serious side effects like diarrhoea, gastric problems, and severe reactions at the injection site.
Dangerous Supply Chain
The investigation revealed that the black market for weight-loss drugs has become more dangerous than ever before. Tony Saggers, the former Head of Drugs Threat and Intelligence at the National Crime Agency, explained, “This is more dangerous than the supply of illicit drugs like cocaine and heroin. The majority of people using those drugs know what they’re buying, but with these drugs, they are marketed as legitimate. People are putting substances in their bodies that are high risk of either hospitalising them or potentially even killing them.”
Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind Mounjaro, has condemned the counterfeit drugs and highlighted the significant risks to public health. Emily Pegg, the company’s European Medical Director, stated that these fake products have “no regulatory oversight” and could be extremely harmful to those who use them.
Efforts to Combat the Black Market
In response to the alarming findings, Eli Lilly has reported the issue to the MHRA (Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency), which is now investigating the network of counterfeit drug suppliers. An MHRA spokesperson assured ITV News that their Criminal Enforcement Unit works closely with Border Force to dismantle illegal drug operations and protect consumers from harm.
ITV News also uncovered that over 2,000 unsafe air fryers have been seized at Port of Felixstowe in the past two and a half years, indicating the scale of illicit products entering the UK. Clare Davies from Suffolk Trading Standards urged consumers to be cautious when purchasing weight-loss products, stating, “You might think you’re saving money by buying cheaply online, but you’ve got to ask yourself, is this worth the risk of a house fire?”
Public Awareness and Safety
As the market for unlicensed weight-loss drugs continues to grow, experts and authorities are warning the public about the dangers of buying medications outside of reputable medical channels. Giuseppe Capanna, an engineer at Electrical Safety First, urged consumers to “read the manufacturer’s instructions” and only buy weight-loss products from reputable sources to avoid potentially life-threatening situations.
Closing
The investigation has shone a light on the dangerous black market for counterfeit weight-loss injections and the urgent need for increased regulation and public awareness. As these illicit drugs continue to flood the UK market, authorities and experts are working to disrupt this illegal supply chain and prevent further harm to consumers.
This story may be updated with more information as it becomes available.
