An investigation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has resulted in the arrests of five people in the West Midlands suspected of selling prescription-only and unlicensed medicines through illegally operating websites.

The MHRA said the operation, which is also being run by West Midlands Police and is continuing, seized "a significant quantity" of drugs from addresses in the area, including sleeping pills, painkillers and medicines used to treat epilepsy and anxiety. 

“Buying medicines online from illegally operating websites can be risky. The vast majority of medicines supplied from illegally operating websites are not UK authorised medicines and cannot be guaranteed to meet standards of quality, safety and effectiveness," said the MHRA's head of enforcement Andy Morling.