Shafaqna English– The surging demand for weight-loss drugs in Brazil has fueled a flourishing black market, with smuggled GLP-1 medications like Mounjaro and Wegovy being concealed in unusual places—from sweet spreads to motorcycle parts.
Despite Brazil being one of the world’s fastest-growing markets for such treatments, weak enforcement, high costs, and a strong beauty culture have driven many consumers toward unregulated or counterfeit products.
Between 2018 and mid-2026, authorities reported over 3,600 complications and 83 deaths potentially linked to these drugs, with unauthorized versions believed to play a major role.
Seizures of illegal products skyrocketed from 609 units in 2024 to over 60,000 in 2025, and experts warn of a looming public health crisis, even as many users accept the risks in pursuit of weight loss.
Source: Reuters