Pramesh S Jain
The Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FDA) has busted a large-scale spurious drug racket allegedly operating from a farmhouse in Bidadi and seized fake medicines,machinery and printing materials worth an estimated Rs.5.05 crore.
Acting on a tip-off,officials from the Drug Enforcement Wing of the FDA conducted a joint inspection at a farmhouse located at No.34,Kurubarakeranahalli,
According to the FDA,the premises were allegedly being used to procure low-cost medicines from neighbouring states,refill them into new vials and relabel them as expensive life-saving drugs of multinational pharmaceutical companies.
The officials found spurious medicines bearing forged labels of brands, including products purportedly manufactured by Pfizer and other companies.
The counterfeit labels also carried QR/scanning codes, which were found to be non-functional during verification.
The seized material included 5,640 vials of CEFIAVIGENT 2.5 Injection valued at Rs.3.38 crore,1,531 vials of HIZLAM Injectables worth ₹52.24 lakh, 30 boxes of expired drugs valued at ₹35 lakh,470 vials of Xavitaz Injection worth ₹27.49 lakh and 264 vials of EMBLAVEO bearing the name of Pfizer, valued at ₹20.59 lakh.
Officials also seized other injectable drugs,packaging materials,an injection-filling machine and forged labels and stamps.
The total value of the seized material and equipment was estimated at ₹5,05,49,575.
The FDA said the preliminary investigation indicated violations of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act,1940, including the manufacture,storage and distribution of drugs without a valid licence.
Spurious drugs are covered under Section 17B of the Act,while offences relating to their manufacture,sale, stocking or distribution attract stringent punishment under Section 27.
Samples of the seized medicines have been sent for laboratory analysis to determine their chemical composition,sterility and potency.
The department has also initiated steps to block the relevant batch numbers and entries on the Karnataka FDA portal to prevent further distribution or sale.
As part of the continuing investigation into the supply chain, the FDA has also initiated action against retailers and wholesalers allegedly involved in the distribution and sale of the spurious medicines.
Licences of 16 firms have been cancelled and those of eight firms suspended.
The licence of M/s Pfizer C&F Depot,Survey No. 66/3 B2, Kempalinganahalli,Nelamangala taluk,Bengaluru Rural district, has also been suspended.
The FDA has further initiated criminal proceedings under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
The seized medicines,machinery and printing materials are being documented and will be produced before the JMFC court in Bengaluru South for further proceedings.
A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is continuing the probe to trace the supply chain and identify all those allegedly involved in the racket.
The FDA has advised citizens to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and insist on valid tax invoices.
It has also urged patients and the public to report suspicious changes in drug packaging or non-functional QR codes on medicine labels to the Drug Enforcement authorities.
