New RTÉ documentary examines black market for prescription weight loss medication

Kenneth Fox

RTÉ Investigates went undercover examining how prescription-only weight loss medication is moving through the Irish black market in a brand new documentary to air next Monday night.

Earlier this year RTÉ Investigates examined the beauty industry and the widespread sale of unlicenced Botox type products.

During the course of that investigation RTÉ Investigates reporter Pamela Fraher and producer Philip Gallagher noticed another illegal trade emerging alongside it in the beauty industry.

Weight loss medication has become big business, with demand surging in recent years for a series of injectable pens that can help tackle obesity and diabetes. But with demand rising and supply restricted, a burgeoning black market has grown alongside it.

One individual supplier, providing the medication illegally, in the south west of the country admitted to RTÉ's undercover researcher that in the last six months "It just blew up and now we've supplied 350 people."

The black market in weight loss medication is booming in Ireland, and with it, dangerous behaviour.

RTÉ Investigates goes undercover examining how prescription only weight loss medication is entering Ireland in an unregulated and illegal manner.

Professor Donal O'Shea, clinical lead on obesity with the HSE told RTÉ Investigates:  "The scale, the level of deception, is overall incredibly depressing for me, and shocking."

Kathy Maher Former President, Irish Pharmacy Union "We don't know what is in that product. I am absolutely stunned."

Watch RTÉ Investigates: Black Market Weight Loss this Monday, 9th December, 9.35pm on RTÉ One and RTÉ Player.