Authorities have uncovered a major illegal operation manufacturing and selling unlicensed weight-loss drugs from an industrial estate in Northampton. The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) led a significant two-day raid in late October, seizing what was described as the world's largest haul of its kind.
The Raid and the Seized Products
Enforcement officers targeted an unassuming red-brick unit on Tenter Road, situated between an air-compressor service and an auto repair shop. During the operation, they confiscated thousands of Alluvi-branded weight-loss pens, raw chemical ingredients, manufacturing equipment, packaging materials, and approximately £20,000 in cash.
Some of the seized injectable pens were labelled as containing retatrutide, a potent GLP-1 agonist drug that is still undergoing clinical trials and is not approved for medical use. Despite this, it has been heavily promoted on social media as a successor to popular treatments like Mounjaro.
The Entrepreneurial Link and Crypto Connections
Months after the large-scale seizure, no arrests have been made, and the individuals behind the operation have not been publicly named. However, a Guardian investigation has uncovered evidence pointing to links with Northampton-based entrepreneur Fasial Tariq. He has not been arrested or charged with any offence related to the raid.
The raided unit is registered to Wholesale Supplements Limited, a company for which Tariq is listed as director. Furthermore, customer orders for Alluvi products were traced to a website trading as Ecommerce Nutri Collectiv. This entity has previously shared a registered address with Vantage Commercials Group Limited, a company once run by Tariq.
Clicking the trading name on the Nutri Collectiv site redirects to another brand, Paradox Labs. Archived pages show this was previously known as Paradox Studio, a cryptocurrency venture founded by Tariq. The project, involving Paradox Coin and a play-to-earn game, faced public accusations of being a scam from online investigators.
A Chaotic and Dangerous Trade
The case highlights the severe challenges regulators face in controlling the booming underground market for weight-loss drugs. One source with inside knowledge of the trade described the Alluvi operators as "nasty" and said they drew undue attention to a typically secretive supply chain.
The source alleged products were assembled with little regard for sterility or accurate dosing, with empty injectable pens easily sourced online. This poses significant public health risks, as unregulated drugs can be contaminated, incorrectly dosed, or improperly sterilised, leading to severe infections, pancreatitis, and other complications.
Academics have criticised the current complaints-led regulatory system as too slow. Dr Piotr Ozieranski from the University of Bath stated it often results in merely a "slap on the wrist," leaving the public exposed to serious harm while protecting suppliers.
Regulatory Gaps and Ongoing Investigation
The MHRA has warned that it disregards claims products are for "research purposes" if such claims are used to circumvent medicines regulations. However, the regulator continues to struggle with social media-driven sales and fragmented online supply chains that exploit legal grey areas.
Despite the scale of the Northampton operation, the MHRA confirmed that no arrests have been made in relation to the raid. When asked about Fasial Tariq and any updates on the case, the agency stated it does not comment on ongoing investigations.
The Alluvi website remains active, and its associated Telegram channel continues to attract members, suggesting the illicit trade persists, potentially from a new location.
