Interpol issued a global alert last night over diet pills feared to be responsible for the deaths of six young Britons.Police in 190 countries were warned the illicit chemical is a lethal threat to unwitting customers using shadowy online dealers.
It came after the death of Eloise Aimee Parry, 21, who took eight tablets of 2,4-Dinitrophenol (DNP) last month.
The student died after buying the chemical to slim down – despite being a normal weight. Five others have been killed since 2008.
A French man has also been left seriously ill after taking the drug and Australian authorities are studying it after a victim suffered a dangerous seizure.
The toxic chemical is falsely marketed as a ‘miracle diet pill’ and sold online for as little as 70p a tablet.
Dealers hiding behind anonymous websites based overseas promise next-day delivery in plain packaging and even offer free samples.
The Interpol Orange Notice is a signal of the danger posed by DNP and how authorities are struggling to block its sale.
Experts have been working with the World Anti-Doping Agency after a laboratory was sent a sample in Australia.
They found the obvious risks associated with its use are amplified by unregulated manufacturing methods.
A spokesman said: ‘In addition to being produced in clandestine laboratories with no hygiene regulations, without specialist manufacturing knowledge the producers also expose consumers to an increased chance of overdose.’
The chemical, a yellow organic compound, comes as a powder or capsule but is also available as a cream. It is used as a pesticide and explosive. It was popular as a diet aid in the 1930s but was banned after it was found to be poisonous and potentially carcinogenic.
DAILYMAIL
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