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UK authorities seized thousands of unlicensed injectable weight-loss drugs and manufacturing equipment from an industrial unit allegedly connected to Faisal Tariq, co-founder of crypto gaming venture Paradox Metaverse, according to an investigation by The Guardian.
The October raid by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency uncovered what officials described as the largest illegal weight-loss drug operation ever discovered in the UK, including products containing retatrutide, a compound not approved for medical use.
The UK-based crypto entrepreneur first rose to prominence through Paradox Metaverse, a crypto-based play-to-earn game launched by brothers Amio Talio and Faisal Tariq. At its peak, the project drew widespread attention after securing a livestream appearance with popular streamer IShowSpeed, who boasts more than 43 million followers across platforms.
That exposure propelled Paradox Metaverse into the spotlight, but it also attracted scrutiny. Crypto investigator Stephen Findeisen, better known as Coffeezilla, publicly labeled the project a Ponzi-style scheme, questioning its tokenomics and sustainability.
Despite denying wrongdoing at the time, the UK-based crypto entrepreneur now finds his name resurfacing in a far more serious context.
According to The Guardian, enforcement officers from the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) raided an industrial estate unit in Northampton last October.
Inside, authorities seized thousands of unlicensed Alluvi-branded weight-loss pens, large quantities of raw chemical compounds, manufacturing machinery, packaging materials, and approximately £20,000 in cash.
Some of the seized products reportedly contained retatrutide, a powerful compound still undergoing clinical trials and not approved for medical use. Officials described the operation as the largest illegal seizure of its kind in the UK.
Although no arrests were made at the time, the discovery has become central to the unfolding investigation into the UK-based crypto entrepreneur.
The Guardian’s reporting claims the raided unit was registered to Wholesale Supplements Limited, a company that lists Faisal Tariq as its director. Documents reviewed by the newspaper reportedly connect the UK-based crypto entrepreneur to multiple businesses associated with the sale and distribution of Alluvi products.
Customer orders analyzed by journalists showed the drugs were sold through a website called Ecommerce Nutri Collectiv. The site later lost its payment processing services after Stripe withdrew support—often a red flag in compliance-driven industries.
Records also indicate that Nutri Collectiv previously shared a registered address with Vantage Commercials Group, another business once run by the UK-based crypto entrepreneur.
Clicking the trading name listed on the Nutri Collectiv website reportedly redirected users to Paradox Labs, a brand previously known as Paradox Studio—a crypto venture founded by Tariq. Archived webpages show direct branding continuity between the supplement operation and the crypto business, strengthening suspicions about the UK-based crypto entrepreneur’s role.
Paradox Coin and Paradox Metaverse, the firm’s flagship crypto projects, promised users the ability to earn tokens through gameplay. However, players and analysts raised repeated concerns about sustainability, liquidity, and transparency.
Coffeezilla confronted Tariq directly in a YouTube interview, questioning whether the project relied on constant new inflows to remain solvent. Tariq denied promoting a get-rich-quick scheme, but critics remained unconvinced.
Medical experts have warned that unregulated injectable weight-loss drugs pose serious health risks. Retatrutide, in particular, has not completed clinical trials, and illegal formulations may be contaminated, improperly dosed, or unsafely manufactured.
“These substances bypass every safeguard designed to protect patients,” one UK pharmacology expert told The Guardian. “The risks range from infection to organ damage.”
Despite the scale of the operation, the MHRA has confirmed that no arrests have yet been made. When questioned about the UK-based crypto entrepreneur, the agency declined to comment, citing an ongoing investigation.
The case has reignited criticism that enforcement agencies are moving too slowly against sophisticated criminal networks that blend online businesses with real-world manufacturing.
Jameson Lopp, a well-known security researcher, has previously warned that criminals increasingly exploit digital platforms and payment systems to obscure illicit activity. While not commenting directly on the case, he has argued that “online legitimacy often masks offline criminality.”
For critics, the allegations against the UK-based crypto entrepreneur underscore the need for tighter oversight of crypto ventures, influencer marketing, and payment providers.
While Faisal Tariq has not been charged, the growing body of evidence has placed the UK-based crypto entrepreneur under intense public scrutiny. His refusal to comment has only fueled speculation as investigators continue piecing together corporate records, financial flows, and witness testimony.
The case highlights a broader pattern where high-profile crypto projects, flashy branding, and influencer endorsements can distract from deeper risks. For investors and consumers alike, it serves as a reminder that due diligence extends far beyond whitepapers and social media hype.
As authorities continue their probe, the story of this UK-based crypto entrepreneur may become one of the most consequential cautionary tales to emerge from the UK’s crypto scene—linking digital speculation with tangible harm in the real world.
