Three men have been sentenced to a total of over 15 years in prison for a highly organized burglary that resulted in the theft of approximately £1 million worth of the weight-loss drug Mounjaro. The crime occurred on January 24 at a pharmaceutical distribution site in St Albans, United Kingdom.

Mark Harding, 55, Robert Townsend, 59, and Peter Costello, 44, were convicted of burglary. The court heard that the operation was meticulously planned, with the perpetrators entering the facility through an air conditioning vent and forcing their way into a walk-in refrigerator.

Judge Jonathan Mann KC described the burglary as sophisticated, noting that tools were used to bypass security systems and that the methods employed, including using a ledge to avoid alarms, indicated advance planning. Townsend had scouted the location a week prior to the incident, acting as a lookout during the burglary.

CCTV footage presented in court showed Costello and Harding, dressed in black and using torches, entering the building through the air duct. They proceeded to force open a large refrigerated area and removed boxes of Mounjaro. The thieves returned for additional boxes less than two hours later. Prosecutors indicated that CCTV cameras had been tampered with by spraying black paint on them.

Peter Costello, 44, entered the property with Harding through the air conditioning unit

Following their arrest on February 11, Harding and Townsend also admitted to possession of criminal property. Approximately £35,000 in cash was found in Harding's wardrobe, and £19,900 was discovered behind an extractor fan in Townsend's home. This cash is believed to be linked to the Mounjaro theft. The stolen drugs, valued at £944,544.89, have not been recovered.

Mark Harding, 55, of Chertsey Road, Feltham, is pictured. Some £35,000 in cash was discovered in a picnic basket in his wardrobe

All three defendants have prior convictions, including previous burglary offenses for Costello and Harding within the last decade. The court sentenced each to five years and three months for the burglary. Townsend and Harding received additional concurrent nine-month sentences for the possession of criminal property charge. Proceedings are underway to settle matters concerning the seized cash.