2026-02-13 17:03:02

Britain is being swamped with fake Viagra — and officials warn the dodgy blue pills could pose a deadly risk.

Almost 20 million counterfeit erectile dysfunction doses have been seized in the past five years, according to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) — roughly one pill for three in four men in the UK.

The watchdog says criminals are cashing in on embarrassment.

Andy Morling, head of the MHRA’s criminal enforcement unit, said: “Stigma and embarrassment are being exploited by criminals selling fake medicines that can seriously harm your health.

“These seizures show the sheer scale of the illegal market for erectile dysfunction medicines in the UK – and the risks people are taking without realising.”

Between 2021 and 2025, the agency confiscated around 19.5 million doses of illegal ED drugs — including 4.4 million in 2025 alone. Annual seizures have more than doubled since 2022.

Officials warn the pills may look convincing — but what’s inside could be anything.

Morling said: “Any medicine not authorised for sale in the UK can be unsafe or ineffective and there is no way of knowing what is in them or the negative health effects they can have.

“These pills may look genuine, but many are potentially dangerous.

“These products may contain no active ingredient, the wrong dose, hidden drugs or toxic ingredients.”

Lab tests on fake Viagra bought online have previously uncovered alarming ingredients including detergents and even printer ink. Many are manufactured in unhygienic conditions with no quality control.

While medicines sold legally in the UK must pass strict safety standards, rogue sellers operate through shady websites and social media accounts.

In 2025 alone, the MHRA disrupted more than 1,500 websites and social media accounts illegally selling medical products, and removed 1,200 posts.

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