Black Market for Weight-Loss Drugs Flourishes Between Gibraltar and Spain's Costa del Sol

Illegal Trade Fuels Public Health Concerns

A burgeoning black market for highly sought-after weight-loss drugs, including Ozempic and Mounjaro, has been identified operating between Gibraltar and Spain's Costa del Sol. This illicit trade exploits significant price disparities and high demand, leading to concerns over public health and the proliferation of unregulated and potentially dangerous counterfeit products. Spanish authorities are actively investigating these networks, which involve 'narco-style couriers' and social media-driven sales.

Cross-Border Smuggling and Price Discrepancies

The illegal market is primarily driven by individuals acting as 'couriers' who purchase these medications legally in Gibraltar, where they are often cheaper and tax-free. For instance, drugs like Mounjaro can cost around €230 in Gibraltar compared to up to €400 a month in Spain. These couriers then resell the drugs on the black market in Spain, often through social media platforms where scammers offer to procure prescriptions for Spanish customers for an additional fee. Shipments are frequently divided into small packages and routed through multiple countries to evade detection.

Dangers of Counterfeit and Unregulated Medications

Health authorities, including the Spanish Agency for Medicines and Health Products (Aemps) and the World Health Organization (WHO), have issued stern warnings regarding the significant health risks associated with purchasing these drugs outside official channels. Counterfeit versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, have been detected, and these fake products often lack quality, safety, or effectiveness guarantees. Patients using unregulated drugs face severe consequences, including the risk of receiving incorrect dosages, harmful substances, or experiencing serious adverse effects such as cardiovascular complications, arrhythmias, heart attacks, and even sudden cardiac death. Some illegal slimming products have previously been found to contain banned substances like sibutramine, linked to serious cardiovascular issues.

Enforcement Efforts and Underlying Demand

Spanish police and the Tax Agency have launched operations to dismantle these criminal networks. One significant operation resulted in the arrest of 33 individuals across various Spanish provinces, including Madrid, Malaga, Alicante, Barcelona, and Sevilla. This crackdown led to the seizure of over 300,000 doses of various medicinal compounds valued at over €2 million, alongside nearly €400,000 in cash. Four pharmacies were also implicated in the illegal distribution. The high demand for these drugs stems from their effectiveness in weight loss, leading to their off-label use and shortages for patients with type 2 diabetes, for whom they were originally intended. Furthermore, Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, is currently under investigation in Spain for potentially violating EU bans on consumer advertising for prescription-only drugs through indirect marketing campaigns.