Armed robberies in São Paulo pharmacies are surging as criminals target popular and expensive weight-loss medications, highlighting the dire consumer demand in Brazil where obesity is rising but affordability is low.
Rise in Armed Robberies for Weight-Loss Drugs in Brazil
Rise in Armed Robberies for Weight-Loss Drugs in Brazil
Pharmacies in São Paulo are increasingly targeted by thieves for high-demand weight-loss medications like Ozempic as body image issues intensify amid growing obesity rates.
Amid alarming trends in crime, pharmacies in São Paulo, Brazil, are facing a new wave of targeted armed robberies mainly focused on coveted weight-loss medications. In the past months, criminals have been raiding drugstores, specifically asking for Ozempic, Wegovy, and Saxenda, which are injection-based drugs that cost between 700 to 1,100 Brazilian reais (or approximately $120 to $190). This trend is deeply intertwined with Brazil's growing body image insecurities and obesity crisis, creating a perfect storm of desperation for these medications that many simply cannot afford.
The latest incident occurred late January when David Fernando, a pharmacist, was threatened at gunpoint and forced to hand over multiple boxes of the high-cost meds. Reports suggest that his pharmacy had already been robbed for these specific drugs on two prior occasions by the end of 2024. In response to the surge in thefts, businesses are ramping up security measures, with some pharmacies now employing security guards for protection.
The desperation wasn’t limited to Fernando’s drugstore; just a few streets away, another pharmacy suffered a near tragedy when a police officer intervened during an attempted theft, resulting in a shootout that left an innocent bystander injured. As demand for these weight-loss drugs remains high, the consequences of this crime wave could lead to more significant safety concerns for both pharmacy employees and customers in Brazil’s bustling urban environment.
