STORY
In a significant operation on 29 April 2025, twelve individuals were arrested during dawn raids across the West Midlands and Northwest England. This marks the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency’s (MHRA) most extensive investigation into organised medicines trafficking to date.
The suspects face allegations including participation in an organised crime group, conspiracy to sell or supply controlled drugs and unlicensed medicines, and money laundering. They are currently being held for questioning at various police stations in the regions.
The coordinated raids, part of ‘Operation Subaru’, involved approximately 150 officers and targeted 22 residential and commercial properties across Greater Manchester, Staffordshire, Merseyside, and the West Midlands. The operation led to the seizure of hundreds of thousands of doses of medicines—such as opioid painkillers and anti-anxiety drugs—alongside £100,000 in cash, luxury watches, and suspected criminal assets held in cryptocurrency. Additionally, the MHRA secured restraint orders for over £3.5 million in assets believed to be connected to criminal activities.
Andy Morling, head of the MHRA’s Criminal Enforcement Unit, stated:
“Operation Subaru is the largest investigation we’ve ever undertaken and demonstrates the MHRA’s commitment to protecting the public by dismantling the organised international criminal networks that cause so much harm.”