A Portadown nurse has been fined after enforcement officers discovered unlicensed prescription medicines—including injectable Botulinum toxin—at her home-based aesthetics clinic, in a case that highlights ongoing concerns about the illegal supply of potentially dangerous medicines in Northern Ireland.
Registered Nurse Nafeyka Chavdarova, 44, appeared at Craigavon Magistrates Court on 18 March 2026, where she pleaded guilty to nine charges under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012. She was fined £720 plus an offender levy following an investigation by the Department of Health’s Medicines Regulatory Group (MRG).
The Offence and Investigation
The court heard that in March 2024, enforcement officers visited Chavdarova’s home at Clendenning Avenue, Portadown, which was operating as an aesthetics clinic. Officers seized a range of unlicensed prescription medicines intended for sale or supply, including:
- Injectable Botulinum toxin type A (commonly known as Botox)
- Hydroxocobalamin
- Hyaluronidase
- Lidocaine
Investigators also established that Chavdarova had been unlawfully advertising prescription medicines. The case comes amid a wider regulatory crackdown on unlicensed cosmetic treatments across the UK, with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) recently warning of a spike in hospital admissions linked to unsafe botulinum toxin products.
Official Warnings on Public Safety
Senior Medicines Enforcement Officer Peter Moore, who directed the investigation, issued a stern warning about the dangers of bypassing regulated medicines supply chains:
“This conviction sends a clear message that there are consequences if a person attempts to bypass the regulated system and controls which are in place to ensure public safety and integrity of the medicines supply chain.
“I would urge people to consider the implications of buying drugs online or from dubious sources – there is no way of knowing what you are buying is what you think it is, and this can have serious consequences for your health.”
Aaron McKendry, Interim Head of the Medicines Regulatory Group, emphasised the importance of proper medical oversight:
“It is extremely important that people take prescription only medicines after consultation with their GP, pharmacist or other healthcare professional who have access to patient health records and can consider the risks and benefits associated with every medicine.
“The Department is committed to taking all possible steps to stop the illegal promotion, supply or misuse of medicines and when appropriate, to alerting the public about the dangers of using medicines outside of the regulated supply chain.”
Context and Enforcement Gaps
The case is the latest in a series of enforcement actions against aesthetic practitioners in Northern Ireland. In a separate case last year, a Bangor nurse was fined £8,000 for similar offences involving unlawful prescribing and supply of Botox and weight-loss drugs—raising questions about the disparity in penalties and what factors influence sentencing levels.
The offences occurred in March 2024, meaning the investigation took approximately two years to reach court. The Department has not confirmed whether Chavdarova has been referred to the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) for fitness-to-practise proceedings, nor whether any patients suffered adverse effects from treatments administered at the clinic.
Since January 2025, medicines regulation in Northern Ireland has operated under the Windsor Framework arrangements, with the MHRA now responsible for licensing all UK-wide medicines. This includes enhanced tracking of unlicensed products, though enforcement remains the responsibility of the Department of Health’s MRG.
Questions Remaining
- Has the Nursing and Midwifery Council been notified of this conviction, and will fitness-to-practise proceedings follow?
- Given the serious health risks of unlicensed Botulinum toxin—including the potential for life-threatening botulism—are financial penalties sufficient deterrent against operating outside the regulated supply chain?
- How can members of the public verify that an aesthetic clinic is operating legally before undergoing cosmetic procedures?
- What measures are in place to monitor home-based aesthetics clinics that may evade routine pharmacy inspections?
How to Report Concerns
The Department urges anyone with concerns about the unlawful use of medicines to contact the Medicines Regulatory Group at MRGCaseReferrals@health-ni.gov.uk. Suspected falsified medicines should be reported via the Yellow Card reporting system, and anyone experiencing adverse health effects following cosmetic injections should seek immediate medical attention via NHS 111 or emergency services.