Westmorland and Furness Council has confirmed that a driver was stopped on the M6 near Penrith and found carrying 1,000 counterfeit erectile dysfunction tablets.
The seizure took place earlier this year. The tablets, believed to be fake versions of Viagra and similar products, had an estimated street value of around £3,000.
The council said the case has been referred to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) Criminal Enforcement Unit for further investigation.
Authorities have issued national warnings that counterfeit medicines can be dangerous and may contain unregulated or harmful ingredients.
Viagra is now Britain’s biggest knock-off drug, with counterfeits worth more than £6.2 million seized across the country in 2024.
Andy Morling, who heads the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU), said:
“Criminals are in the illegal medicines trade for one reason only: to make money. By seizing their profits, we’re removing that single motivation. Whether held in Bitcoin or banknotes, we can take these criminal profits out of the hands of offenders. We can also use some of the money to strengthen our enforcement efforts against them. It’s a win for the safety of the public and a serious blow to organised crime.”
“Buying from unverified sources risks your health, as there is no guarantee that the products are safe or effective.”
A pharmacist we spoke to about the dangers of fake Viagra said that, being completely unregulated, there is no way of knowing how the drugs are produced or what they contain. The locations in which the drugs are made are often unhygienic and may expose the pills to toxic chemicals.
Fake Viagra pills themselves can be laden with hazardous ingredients. Lab-tested fake Viagra pills have revealed substances such as:
Detergents
Road paint
Talcum powder
Printer ink
Anti-fungal medication
Drywall
Amphetamines
Not knowing the dosage of Viagra’s active ingredient in any given pill can be dangerous, and potentially fatal.
Then select "Add to Home Screen"
