PSNI probing Illegal weight loss injections with dirty needles being sold over social media to people in Northern Ireland

In a statement, the PSNI said said they were sending a clear message to those involved in the supply of unregulated weight loss injections, that they will continue to work with partners at a local, national and international level to disrupt and prevent the importation and supply of unlawful prescription drugs.

A police spokesperson said: “We want to warn anyone considering buying drugs online, without consulting a medical professional, that these unregulated drugs are often produced in illicit, unhygienic laboratories and are made to look like the genuine product, meaning that they can be incredibly dangerous to take.

“The sale of these drugs highlights a worrying reality – the demand for, and misuse of, prescription drugs.

“It’s a vicious cycle that we need to collectively break, and we all have a part to play.

"Only take prescription medication as recommended by your doctor. If you have information, or concerns, about the illegal use or supply of drugs please contact us on 101.”

The news comes as test purchases of syringes which claimed to contain semaglutide, a prescription-only drug, via Facebook from sellers based in England, were made by BBC News NI.

When tested, the liquid was not semaglutide but did contain carnitine – a supplement that can be bought on the high street.

So-called skinny jabs are prescribed weight loss injections that work by making you feel fuller and less hungry.

In Great Britain, semaglutide is available on the NHS as part of a weight management programme – but in NI it is not as there is no specialist weight management service.

However, it is available on private prescription.