Dangerous weight loss pill dealers busted in Northern Ireland

Officers from the National Food Crime Unit (NFCU) and Northern Irish police seized DNP in capsules and in raw powdered form from two premises in Bangor in Northern Ireland. A 43-year-old man has been questioned in relation to the matter.

DNP is an industrial chemical not approved in the food supply or for any form of human consumption but has gained traction on pirate websites and in MLM channels as a weight loss aid despite being linked to several deaths in the UK and elsewhere.

“Last year, DNP was responsible for six deaths,”​ said Andy Morling, head of Food Crime at the UK Food Standards Agency (FSA), which has issued warnings about DNP in the past couple of years. Several criminal actions have been taken in the UK and European countries and Interpol has acted against the DNP trade.

“Today’s multi-agency operation demonstrates how seriously the NFCU takes the illegal sale of DNP in the UK. Rest assured, if you are selling DNP online or offline we will find you.”​

He added: “It is only through our close working partnership with local authorities and other law enforcement agencies in the UK and abroad that we are able to tackle offenders, close websites and work to disrupt possible supply routes within and into the UK.”​

“As DNP is an industrial chemical there is no safe dosage and it is not made to be consumed as a diet supplement. Please do not be persuaded by the claims being made, as those selling DNP do not care about your wellbeing.”​

Those wishing to report DNP sale activity can use the Twitter hashtag #DNPkills or contact sbbqsenhq@sbbqfgnaqneqf.tfv.tbi.hx​.​

DNP has been traded with names like Dinosan, Dnoc, Solfo Black, Nitrophen, Aldifen and Chemox.