▲ Mounjaro
The number of obesity treatments, such as Mounjaro and Wegovy, intercepted by customs authorities through August of this year has surged to more than four times the total for the entire previous year.
An analysis revealed that among these were so-called counterfeit treatments containing substandard active ingredients or impurities.
According to the Korea Customs Service on September 17, the number of intercepted illegal imports of obesity treatments, which stood at just 4 cases in 2024, spiked to 1,189 cases last year, and reached 5,030 cases through August of this year.
This is 4.2 times the annual total for last year.
Mounjaro and Wegovy brought in from overseas are classified by the Ministry of Food and Drug Safety as harmful pharmaceuticals notified to the Korea Customs Service, and cannot be brought into the country without meeting required import conditions, such as a recommendation for exemption from import requirement verification.
Looking at the 6,223 intercepted cases over the past three years by entry route, international mail accounted for 4,961 cases, traveler personal effects for 1,232 cases, and express cargo for 30 cases.
Among the treatments illegally brought in this way, some were found to have active ingredients falling short of the required content standards.
The Central Customs Analysis Office, which analyzes the components of items intercepted by customs and withheld from clearance, analyzed Mounjaro products originating from India that were blocked from entering at the customs clearance stage, in cooperation with a research team from Chung-Ang University College of Pharmacy.
The results showed a wide variance in the content of tirzepatide, the active ingredient of Mounjaro, across the products.
Multiple unidentified impurities were also detected in some products.
Mounjaro must be refrigerated between 2°C and 8°C (36°F and 46°F) to maintain quality, but investigations showed that these products were transported without a cold chain distribution system.
Na Dong-hee, a professor at Chung-Ang University College of Pharmacy, explained, "Injectables in particular require strict manufacturing and quality control, including not only the management of active ingredients and impurities but also the assurance of sterility. Arbitrarily purchasing and using products of unknown origin and quality can be dangerous."
Lee Jin-hee, Director General for Customs Clearance at the Korea Customs Service, stated, "As attempts to illegally import various pharmaceuticals such as obesity treatments are increasing, we will strengthen customs clearance inspections by entry route and take stern measures against illegal acts such as smuggling."
(Photo courtesy of Eli Lilly Korea, Korea Customs Service, Yonhap News)
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