Tokyo police arrest two over sale of diabetes drug Mounjaro without prescriptions
In short
The Metropolitan Police Department's living environment division has arrested two people over the sale of prescription drugs, including the diabetes drug Mounjaro, to customers without prescriptions at a Tokyo pharmacy. They are Wang Pei (王沛), 40, the de facto manager of the operating company, and the company's representative director. Police believe the pharmacy took in about 65 million yen from October 2024 to June 2026.
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The Metropolitan Police Department's living environment division arrested two people by 22 October on suspicion of violating the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act, Sankei Shimbun and Nikkei reported. The case concerns the sale of the diabetes drug Mounjaro and other drugs to customers who had no doctor's prescription. [ 2 , 4 ]
Those arrested are Wang Pei (王沛), 40, of Toyosu in Koto Ward, and Satoshi Hatori (羽鳥聡), 54, of Shinjuku Ward. Sankei described Wang, who is of Chinese nationality, as the de facto manager of the pharmacy operating company Medix Japan (メディクスジャパン) in Shinjuku Ward. Hatori is the company's representative director. [ 2 ]
According to Sankei, the arrest allegation is that the two conspired to sell Mounjaro and other drugs to four men and women without prescriptions around January to June this year. Nikkei said the allegation includes selling a diabetes drug for 4,500 yen per box to a 38-year-old Chinese woman living in Tokyo, and selling Mounjaro and other drugs to three men and women in their 20s in the Tokyo area. Police have not disclosed whether the suspects admit the allegations. [ 2 , 4 ]
The suspects ran First Beauty Pharmacy (ファーストビューティ薬局) near JR Takadanobaba Station in Shinjuku Ward, Sankei said. It advertised on Chinese social media and took orders through a messaging app. Most customers were Chinese, including visitors to Japan, and word spread on social media that drugs could be bought without going to a hospital. [ 2 ]
Nikkei said the pharmacy mainly served tourists from China and Chinese residents of Japan, selling Japanese prescription drugs at prices outside insurance coverage. It said the pharmacy advertised on its website and social media that it sold without prescriptions. According to police, most of the drugs were for lifestyle diseases such as gout and diabetes. The pharmacy sold face to face to visitors and also agreed to ship to China. [ 4 ]
Police believe the pharmacy sold about 65 million yen worth of drugs without prescriptions from its opening in October 2024 to June 2026, and are investigating. [ 2 , 4 ]
Why it matters
The case concerns a pharmacy that, according to the outlets, served mostly Chinese customers, including visitors to Japan, and was promoted on social media. The documents give no further consequences beyond the arrests and the continuing police investigation.
Key facts
- The Metropolitan Police Department's living environment division arrested two people on suspicion of violating the Pharmaceutical and Medical Device Act. [ 2 , 4 ]
- One of those arrested is Wang Pei (王沛), 40, of Koto Ward, described as the de facto manager of the pharmacy operating company Medix Japan (メディクスジャパン) in Shinjuku Ward; Sankei says he is a Chinese national. [ 2 ]
- The other is the company's representative director, Satoshi Hatori (羽鳥聡), 54, of Shinjuku Ward. [ 2 ]
- The suspects ran First Beauty Pharmacy (ファーストビューティ薬局) near JR Takadanobaba Station in Shinjuku Ward. [ 2 ]
- Police believe the pharmacy sold about 65 million yen worth of drugs without prescriptions between its opening in October 2024 and June 2026. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Police have not disclosed whether the suspects admit or deny the allegations. [ 2 , 4 ]
Confirmed by several sources
- Police arrested two people, including the de facto manager of a pharmacy operating company in Shinjuku, over sales of drugs including Mounjaro without doctors' prescriptions. [ 2 , 4 ]
- The pharmacy was First Beauty Pharmacy in Shinjuku Ward, which was advertised on social media and served mainly Chinese customers, including visitors to Japan. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Police estimate about 65 million yen in sales from October 2024 to June 2026. [ 2 , 4 ]
- Police have not disclosed whether the suspects admit or deny the allegations. [ 2 , 4 ]
Still unclear
- Whether the suspects admit or deny the allegations. Both Sankei and Nikkei say police have not disclosed this.
- How many people bought drugs without prescriptions. Sankei says the arrest allegation covers four men and women; Nikkei names a 38-year-old woman in Tokyo and three people in their 20s in the Tokyo area. Total customers are not given.
- Whether the pharmacy shipped drugs to China. Only Nikkei reports that it accepted shipping to China, citing police.
What local media are saying
Timeline, local time
- Nishi-Nippon Shimbun publishes a report on the arrest of the pharmacy operator, who is of Chinese nationality, and another person. [ 1 ]
- Sankei Shimbun reports the arrests of Wang Pei and the company's representative director. [ 2 ]
- Nikkei reports the arrests and the allegation of illegal sales to Chinese tourists and others. [ 4 ]
- A second Sankei item reports the arrest of two people over unlawful sales of Mounjaro. [ 5 ]