Deadly new drugs found in fake medicines in the UK
The BBC has uncovered that super-strength drugs linked to hundreds of fatalities have been discovered in samples of counterfeit medicines purchased throughout the UK.
The investigation revealed over 100 instances of individuals attempting to acquire prescription medications like diazepam—often used to treat anxiety, muscle spasms, and seizures—only to receive products containing nitazenes instead.
According to the National Crime Agency (NCA), these synthetic opioid drugs have been associated with 278 deaths across the country within a year. Nitazenes are reported to be more potent than both heroin and fentanyl, the latter being a significant contributor to deaths in the U.S.
Martin Raithelhuber, an expert on illicit synthetic drugs from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime, expressed that the BBC’s findings represent a “very worrying development.”
A government spokesperson said it was “securing our borders from the threat” through “world-leading intelligence, dedicated cross-government taskforce, and extensive international networks”.
The contaminated substances were identified in anonymous samples submitted to WEDINOS, the only national drug-checking service in the UK.
It said the fake medicines looked like “the same kind of packet you might get from your chemist on the high street” but were “most likely purchased from illicit online pharmacies”.
Anne Jacques had never heard of nitazenes when a police officer knocked at her door in the early hours of 17 July 2023 and said her son had been found dead at his student flat.
Alex Harpum, 23, had been preparing for a career as an opera singer and had been accepted for a two-year masters course.
“Watching him sing was one of the biggest joys in my life ever,” Ms Jacques said.
