Ireland Man pleads guilty over €12,000 of weight loss injections brought from Turkey through Dublin Airport
On 13 November 2023, customs officers stopped Patrick Fay, a man, at Terminal 1 arrivals at Dublin Airport after a trip to Turkey and found 60 Saxenda weight loss injection pens worth €12,000 in his bag. The pens did not have European marketing authorisation, and he said they were for himself, three family members and two friends. The Health Products Regulatory Authority prosecuted, and at a hearing reported on 16 December 2024 he pleaded guilty to three charges under the Irish Medicines Board Acts. The judge adjourned sentencing until March for a probation report, while considering 100 hours of community service instead of a three-month sentence, and the HPRA is seeking €1,350 for analysing and destroying the medication.
- Reportednot reported
- Arrestednot reported
- Chargednot reported
- In courtnot reported
- Convicted16 Dec
- Sentenced
Key facts
consolidated from all reports- What happened
- Customs officers intercepted a passenger carrying €12,000 worth of potentially dangerous weight loss injections after a trip to Turkey.
- His bag contained 60 pens labelled Saxenda.
- The pens did not have European marketing authorisation.
- Where
- The man was stopped at Terminal 1 arrivals at Dublin Airport.
- When
- The man was stopped on 13 November 2023.
- Cause
- He said the product was for himself, three family members and two friends.
- Investigation
- The case was brought as a prosecution by the Health Products Regulatory Authority.
- Charges
- He pleaded guilty to three charges under the Irish Medicines Board Acts: unlawful importation of Saxenda injections, keeping them for supply, and placing them on the Irish market without authorisation.
- In court
- Sentencing was adjourned until March for a probation report.
- Sentence
- The judge is considering 100 hours of community service instead of a three-month sentence.
- Other details
- The prosecution accepted that he entered an early guilty plea.
- He had no prior convictions.
- The HPRA wants €1,350 to cover the cost of analysing and destroying the medication.
14 statements extracted from the articles
- whatCustoms officers intercepted a passenger at Dublin Airport carrying €12,000 worth of potentially dangerous weight loss injections after a trip to Turkey. (thejournal.ie)
- whatHis bag contained 60 pens labelled Saxenda. (thejournal.ie)
- whatThe pens did not have European marketing authorisation. (thejournal.ie)
- whereThe man was stopped at Terminal 1 arrivals. (thejournal.ie)
- whenThe man was stopped on 13 November 2023. (thejournal.ie)
- causeHe said the product was for himself, three family members and two friends. (thejournal.ie)
- investigationThe case was brought as a prosecution by the Health Products Regulatory Authority. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeHe pleaded guilty to three charges. (thejournal.ie)
- chargeThe offences were under the Irish Medicines Board Acts for importing Saxenda injections unlawfully, keeping them for supply, and placing them on the Irish market without authorisation. (thejournal.ie)
- courtSentencing was adjourned until March for a probation report. (thejournal.ie)
- sentenceThe judge is considering 100 hours of community service instead of a three-month sentence. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe prosecution accepted that he entered an early guilty plea. (thejournal.ie)
- otherHe had no prior convictions. (thejournal.ie)
- otherThe HPRA wants €1,350 to cover the cost of analysing and destroying the medication. (thejournal.ie)
The reporting
newest first- 16 Dec2024Man stopped at Dublin Airport with €12,000 worth of weight loss drug from Turkey, court hears
First report of this case. Adds the court hearing: guilty pleas to three charges, the HPRA prosecution, the judge's consideration of community service, and the adjournment of sentencing.
convicted, Patrick Fay, male, named, irish (judged from name)Patrick Fay