A person known for promoting weight loss injections on social media has been revealed to have a criminal history involving drug dealing. Mark Allen, aged 46, advertises peptides on his Weight Loss and Gym Gains platform, including Retatrutide, which is not authorized for use in the UK. He was sentenced to two-and-a-half years in prison by the Exeter Crown Court in 2018 for possessing crack cocaine and heroin with the intention to distribute.
During the trial, evidence showed that Allen was involved in the production of crack cocaine in a bedroom, and law enforcement discovered incriminating messages on his phone offering drug deals and boasting about the quality of the substances. Presently, he operates a garden fencing business and earns extra income by selling unlicensed weight loss and health peptides.
Although Allen, like many sellers, claims that these substances are “not for human consumption,” videos on TikTok and Instagram depict him preparing syringes with detailed instructions, including vial sterilization steps. In one video, he refers to Retatrutide as “Rataloullie” in an apparent attempt to circumvent the ban, urging his followers to try the product with promises of significant weight loss results.
Numerous social media posts by Allen feature hashtags such as #weightloss, #energy, #weighttransformation, and #peps, alongside striking before-and-after photos showcasing weight changes, coupled with website links. His wife, Becky, also promotes the peptides on a separate TikTok account that frequently features content involving Mark.
Despite their promotional efforts, when approached for comment, Allen promptly deleted his TikTok account and denied any allegations of illegal business practices. Subsequently, he established a new page using a slightly different name. In a separate response, Becky criticized the reporter for their inquiries.
Retatrutide is an experimental injectable medication currently in Phase three clinical trials for obesity and type 2 diabetes. In the UK, selling Retatrutide and most peptides is legal as long as they are designated and sold strictly for research purposes as laboratory compounds.
However, selling Retatrutide on social media is unlawful in the UK due to its unlicensed status, making it illegal to market or supply for human use under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. Many sellers attempt to bypass this restriction by claiming the products are intended for research use only.
Ashton Collins from the government-backed watchdog Save Face expressed concerns over the increasing reports of severe issues arising from the purchase of injectable peptides online. The illicit marketing of these substances for cosmetic and performance purposes on platforms like TikTok is a violation of UK medicines law regarding prescription-only and unlicensed products.
Experts in Australia have already warned about health risks associated with buying and self-injecting tanning peptides like Melanotan II purchased online. Failure to address this issue promptly could lead to a broader public health crisis if not regulated effectively.