In the past year, demand for Ozempic in South Africa has skyrocketed, turning it into one of the most sought-after drugs on the market. Originally intended for diabetes management, its sudden popularity as a weight-loss treatment has led to empty pharmacy shelves, waiting lists, and even criminal activity. While desperate buyers scour online sources like ozempicprice.co.za for availability, others are taking more drastic measures—stealing it. From pharmacy break-ins to inside jobs, Ozempic has become the unexpected target of theft and smuggling operations across the country.
The Pharmacy Break-Ins: A New Kind of Gold Rush
In Cape Town, a group of masked thieves recently broke into a private clinic, bypassing cash registers and expensive equipment to head straight for the refrigerated medication storage. Their target? A shipment of Ozempic worth over R1 million. Police suspect an organized crime ring may be involved, reselling stolen doses at triple the retail price to desperate buyers.
Similar incidents have been reported in Johannesburg, where independent pharmacies have become prime targets. One pharmacy owner, who wished to remain anonymous, recalled arriving at work to find the front door smashed and shelves emptied of all weight-loss injections. “They didn’t take anything else—just the Ozempic and a few other GLP-1 medications,” she said.
Inside Jobs and Disappearing Stock
While some thefts involve dramatic break-ins, others happen quietly from within. At a major Gauteng hospital, an internal investigation uncovered that an employee had been siphoning off Ozempic shipments and selling them through social media platforms. Reports suggest that health workers, underpaid and facing economic hardship, see an opportunity in the skyrocketing value of this medication.
Private medical suppliers have also faced growing concerns over missing inventory. A shipment of Ozempic bound for a chain of pharmacies in Durban never arrived at its destination, sparking speculation about an inside job. With prices rising and stock shortages worsening, officials believe some employees may be redirecting supplies to unauthorized buyers.
Smuggling and the Border Trade
South Africa’s struggle with Ozempic theft doesn’t stop at pharmacies. Border authorities have intercepted several attempts to smuggle Ozempic across neighboring countries, particularly from Botswana and Namibia. The reason? South African patients unable to find the drug locally are turning to alternative sources, creating a lucrative underground trade. Smugglers reportedly purchase the medication in bulk from less regulated markets and bring it back for resale at inflated prices.
What’s Next? A Fight for Regulation
The South African government is under growing pressure to address both Ozempic shortages and the wave of thefts surrounding it. Medical experts warn that black-market injections could pose serious health risks, as counterfeit versions may be circulating alongside stolen doses. Meanwhile, pharmacy owners are increasing security measures, installing safes for medication storage, and limiting public access to high-demand drugs.
Authorities are also urging patients to buy Ozempic only from registered pharmacies and verified sources, discouraging participation in the underground market that fuels crime. As law enforcement cracks down, public hospitals like Chris Hani Baragwanath Hospital are playing a key role in ensuring access to legitimate medication—if, of course, they can keep it from being stolen first.