Crime Top News

Telangana Drugs Administration, Hyderabad police bust interstate counterfeit drug network in Uttarakhand

Telangana Drugs Administration, Hyderabad police bust interstate counterfeit drug network in Uttarakhand

HYDERABAD: In a significant breakthrough targeting the illegal manufacturing and distribution of spurious or counterfeit drugs, a joint operation conducted by the Telangana Drug Control Administration (DCA), Hyderabad Commissioner’s Task Force, and Malakpet police successfully busted an interstate network operating from the pharma factory, Nectar Herbs and Drugs, in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand.

For the first time, a meticulously coordinated interstate operation named Operation JAI was executed by the Telangana Drug Control Administration, Commissioner’s Task Force, Hyderabad, and Malakpet police.

Img 20240301 Wa0007

The team discovered three cartons containing 27, 200 tablets of the counterfeit antibiotic MPOD-200 Tablets, valued at Rs. 7.34 lakhs. These spurious tablets were falsely labelled as manufactured by Meg Life Sciences, a fictitious or non-existent company situated in the Khasara district of Sirmour.

Img 20240301 Wa0005

The accused, Aravapalli Satyanarayana, was caught selling the spurious drug stocks to Vangari Naveen near Moosarambagh X Roads. Upon inquiry, Aravapalli Satyanarayana revealed that he had purchased the spurious medicines from Gandla Ramulu of Meerpet. The police also apprehended Aravapalli Satyanarayana, Vangari Naveen, and Gandla Ramulu.

Img 20240301 Wa0008

During interrogation, Gandla Ramulu revealed that the spurious drugs were received from Vishad Kumar of Kotdwar, Uttarakhand. He further disclosed that Vishad Kumar manufactures spurious drugs at his company, Nectar Herbs and Drugs, located in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand, along with a person Sachin Kumar. Ramulu admitted to placing orders for spurious drugs on Sachin Kumar and Vishad Kumar through WhatsApp calls.

A joint action team comprising members from the Drugs Control Administration, Commissioner’s Task Force, Hyderabad, and Malakpet Police was formed. Special teams from these agencies proceeded to Uttarakhand to trace the manufacturing location of the spurious or counterfeit drugs.

In a coordinated operation, officers from the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, Commissioner’s Task Force, Hyderabad, and Malakpet Police kept vigil on the manufacturing facility of Nectar Herbs and Drugs located in Sigaddi, Kotdwar, Pauri Garhwal District, Uttarakhand.

A surprise raid was conducted on February 29, during which the manufacturing of counterfeit or spurious Cefixime Tablets IP 200 mg, falsely claimed as ‘Omnicef-O 200 Tablets,’ was detected. The drug was falsely labeled as manufactured by Aristo Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd.

The manufacturing of spurious drugs was being carried out by Sachin Kumar of Roorkee, Uttarakhand. He brought fake labels (pre-printed aluminium foils and other packing materials) of reputed companies to Nectar Herbs and Drugs in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand, in his vehicle along with three workers.

Img 20240301 Wa0009

Sachin Kumar had the counterfeit labels, including aluminium foils and cartons, manufactured at Vaishnavi Printers (Vaishnavi Printing Press) in Bhagvanpur, Roorkee, Uttarakhand.

Vishad Kumar, the CEO of Nectar Herbs and Drugs, allowed Sachin Kumar to manufacture spurious drugs at his manufacturing facility for Rs 35,000 for 1,00,000 dummy tablets. Bhavana, a worker at Nectar Herbs and Drugs, manufactured dummy tablets with chalk powder upon instructions from Sachin Kumar.

Sachin Kumar packed the dummy tablets with the labels of the reputed company Aristo, falsely claiming them to be the antibiotic drug ‘Cefixime Tablets’. During interrogation, Sachin Kumar revealed that he manufactured counterfeit or spurious drugs for reputed companies such as GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), Alkem, Aristo, and Cipla. Counterfeits of Augmentin-625, Clavum-625, Omnicef-O 200, Montair-LC, etc., were manufactured by Sachin Kumar at Nectar Herbs and Drugs, Uttarakhand. Sachin Kumar also admitted that he received orders regarding spurious drugs from Gandla Ramulu of Hyderabad.