The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) uncovered a counterfeit drug network, seizing spurious medicines worth ₹3.06 crore during ten raids from 1 Dec, 2023 to 30 Nov, 2024
Published Dec 03, 2024 | 12:37 PM ⚊ Updated Dec 03, 2024 | 5:51 PM
Spurious drugs
The Telangana Drugs Control Administration (DCA) has uncovered a sprawling counterfeit drug network, seizing spurious medicines worth ₹3.06 crore during ten meticulously planned raids over the past year between 1 December 2023 and 30 November 2024.
Spurious drugs are counterfeit or fake medications that are deliberately mislabeled in terms of identity, composition, or source, often containing incorrect or harmful ingredients, posing serious risks to public health.
These rackets exploited courier networks, disguising drugs as mundane items like machine parts to evade regulatory scrutiny and smuggle them across state borders. To mislead both authorities and consumers, fictitious entities such as Astra Generics Pvt. Ltd. and Meg Lifesciences were created, adding a layer of complexity to the operations.
Also, a key element of the deception was the use of counterfeit packaging, with high-quality fake labels, foils, and cartons mimicking reputed pharmaceutical brands. These materials were sourced from specialised printing units, enabling the racketeers to produce counterfeits that were nearly indistinguishable from legitimate products.
Further complicating enforcement efforts, manufacturing hubs were strategically set up in remote or unlicensed locations, allowing the operations to remain mobile and evade detection by authorities.
In a significant crackdown, the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) of Telangana seized antibiotics valued at ₹1.33 crore from Jodas Expoim Pvt Ltd.’s manufacturing facility in Biotech Park, Karakapatla, Siddipet district, on 26 November.
The seizure revealed illegal practices, including exporting products made by other pharmaceutical companies under Jodas Expoim’s name and unauthorised packing of antibiotics.
“Acting on credible intelligence, DCA officials raided the facility and uncovered large stocks of antibiotics in the Finished Goods Warehouse, violating provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Among the seized items was a batch of Ampicillin + Sulbactam injections (1000 mg + 500 mg) labeled as manufactured by Jodas Expoim Pvt. Ltd. Upon investigation, the batch (No. JD4479) containing 38,175 vials was found to have been produced by Indian Genomix Pvt. Ltd., located in Cherlapally, Medchal-Malkajgiri district. These mislabeled antibiotics were being exported to Russia under false claims,” said DCA in a statement.
It further added that inquiries revealed that other antibiotics, including Amoxicillin + Clavulanic Acid (1000 mg + 200 mg), Ampicillin + Sulbactam (2000 mg + 1000 mg), and Meropenem (500 mg), were similarly exported to Russia in October and November 2024 under Jodas Expoim’s name. However, these were also manufactured by unrelated pharmaceutical companies. The facility was also found engaging in unauthorized packing of antibiotics, a direct violation of the Act.
Last year, on 29 December 2023, the DCA uncovered a counterfeit drug manufacturing racket operating out of Kukatpally, Hyderabad. Rams Pharmaceuticals, located in Moosapet, Hyderabad, was found illicitly manufacturing counterfeit anti-ulcer medicines under the guise of being a food supplement producer.
These drugs were falsely labeled in the name of a Punjab-based company and distributed to a wholesale distributor, M/s. Biomedic Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd., in Nizamabad, without a valid drug license.
On 27 June, 2024, the Drug Control Administration (DCA) of Telangana conducted two successful raids in Hyderabad, uncovering spurious drugs being sold under the guise of reputable brands.
The first raid took place at Goel Pharma, Sultan Bazar, Koti, where counterfeit versions of Vertin 16 Tablets (Betahistine Tablets IP 16 mg) were seized. These tablets, falsely claimed to be manufactured by M/s Abbott India Ltd. in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh, were found to have a batch number of RBIB23006, with a manufacturing date of February 2023 and an expiry date of January 2026.
The second raid occurred at Yashwanth Pharma, Moosarambagh, where both counterfeit Vertin 8 Tablets (Betahistine Tablets IP 8 mg) and Vertin 16 Tablets were seized. These spurious drugs, carrying batch numbers RBIA23009 and RBIB23006, were also falsely labeled as products of M/s Abbott India Ltd. in Baddi.
In total, the authorities confiscated spurious drugs worth ₹62,000 during the two raids.
“The counterfeit tablets had been distributed to these local pharmacies, putting consumers at risk of ineffective and potentially harmful medication,” said DCA.
On 4 December 2023, acting on intelligence inputs, the Telangana DCA conducted a raid on an unlicensed premises in Machabollaram.
To their surprise they uncovered counterfeit and spurious anti-cancer drugs falsely labeled as being manufactured by a fictitious entity, Astra Generics Pvt. Ltd.
During the raid, authorities seized 36 varieties of drugs, including several spurious anti-cancer medications. The total value of the confiscated drugs was estimated at ₹4.35 crore, with the spurious drugs accounting for ₹37.52 lakh of the haul. This marked another significant crackdown by the DCA in its ongoing fight against the menace of counterfeit pharmaceuticals.
On 29 December, last year in a raid DCA found two varieties of antibiotics, MPOD-200 Tablets and MEXCLAV 625 Tablets, fraudulently labeled as being manufactured by “Meg Lifesciences, Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh,” a fictitious company.
On 30 December last year, DCA officials raided the premises of M/s. Biomedic Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd. in Vinayaka Nagar, Nizamabad, seizing 29,600 capsules of counterfeit Essom-RD (Esomeprazole Gastro-Resistant & Domperidone Sustained Release capsules).
“These capsules, falsely claimed to have been manufactured by QP Pharmachem Ltd. in Derabassi, Punjab, were valued at ₹6 lakh. Subsequent analysis by a Government Analyst revealed that the drug content in Essom-RD was entirely absent,” said DCA.
Courier networks are one of the major tools for distributing spurious medicines by culprits.
Based on intelligence gathered by the Telangana DCA regarding the influx of spurious drugs from Kashipur, Uttarakhand, a special team conducted raids in Hyderabad on 29 December, 2023.
Assisted by the Task Force, the operation dismantled a counterfeit drug racket involving fake antibiotics, hypertension and cholesterol medications, and analgesics. Authorities seized stocks worth ₹26 lakh.
The investigation revealed that the spurious drugs were shipped to Hyderabad via Trackon Couriers Pvt. Ltd., falsely declared as “machine parts.”
“The consignments originated from Amar Pharmaceuticals, Ramnagar Road, Kashipur, and were delivered to Puvvada Lakshman in Hyderabad. The counterfeit drugs, falsely labeled under reputed pharmaceutical brands, included Rosuvas 10 Tablets (Sun Pharma), Telma H and Telma 40 Tablets (Glenmark Pharma), Monocef-O 200 Tablets (Aristo Pharmaceuticals), and Chymoral Forte (Torrent Pharma),” said DCA.
In other case on 3 January 2024, the DCA dismantled a counterfeit antibiotics racket that routed spurious drugs into the state from Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh. Acting on intelligence, the DCA seized fake antibiotics worth ₹22.95 lakhs during coordinated raids at Uppal and Dilsukhnagar, Hyderabad.
The investigation began with surveillance of courier offices, including Trackon Couriers Pvt. Ltd. at Uppal, where five suspicious cartons arrived from Ghaziabad on 30 December 2023, addressed to Lakshman. On 3 January 2024, officials discreetly followed delivery personnel Suresh Kumar to an unlicensed godown in Dilsukhnagar, leading to a raid.
During the operation, authorities uncovered 51,000 counterfeit Cefoxim-CV Tablets (Cefpodoxime Proxetil & Potassium Clavulanate with Lactic Acid Bacillus), falsely labeled as manufactured by the fictitious company Meg Lifesciences in Sirmour, Himachal Pradesh. The seizure underscores the growing threat of spurious antibiotics, which compromise public health and safety.
On 22 November, 2024, a joint operation led by the DCA, in collaboration with the Special Task Force (STF) and the Prohibition and Excise Department, successfully dismantled a spurious drug racket operating in Hyderabad.
The operation targeted the illegal shipment of counterfeit antibiotics and narcotic drugs from Uttar Pradesh to Telangana. The authorities seized spurious antibiotics worth ₹6.91 lakhs and narcotic drugs, including Fentanyl Transdermal Patches, during the raid.
The spurious antibiotics were shipped from Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, to Hyderabad through Shree Tirupati Courier Services. The shipment, which was addressed to Shiv Pharma Distributors in Hyderabad, contained counterfeit tablets such as Jakclav-625 (Amoxicillin & Potassium Clavulanate), Jikpod-CV (Cefpodoxime & Potassium Clavulanate), JikcefLB (Cefixime & Lactic Acid Bacillus), and Jikcf AZ (Cefixime & Azithromycin). The labels on these drugs were found to be fake, listing non-existent or fictitious companies like ‘Geenac Pharma’ and ‘Wellnow Healthcare.’
“The key suspects in the racket were Gandla Ramulu, a habitual offender with several spurious drug cases in Telangana, and Munishekhar, a resident of Proddutur, Andhra Pradesh. Gandla Ramulu admitted to procuring the counterfeit drugs from Prayagraj and coordinating with Munishekhar to ship them to Hyderabad. These drugs were intended for distribution in Telangana and neighboring regions, including Karimnagar and Kurnool,” said DCA.
In addition to the antibiotics, the operation also uncovered Fentanyl Transdermal Patches (50 mcg/hr), a narcotic substance. Twelve patches were seized from one brand (FenSpar), and nine from another (THEMIFENT-P). The seizure of narcotic drugs led to a separate investigation under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Both Gandla Ramulu and Munishekhar were apprehended during the raids, and a case has been registered under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act, as well as under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act for the manufacture and distribution of counterfeit drugs.
From 27th to 29th February , 2024, a significant breakthrough was achieved in the fight against illegal drug manufacturing and distribution as an inter-state operation dubbed “Operation JAI” dismantled a counterfeit drug network operating from Uttarakhand.
This coordinated effort involved the DCA, the Commissioner’s Task Force, Hyderabad, and Malakpet Police, leading to the discovery of a spurious drug manufacturing unit at Nectar Herbs and Drugs, located in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand.
The operation began with a raid at Malakpet, Hyderabad, on 27 February, based on intelligence regarding the movement of spurious drugs. Officials seized three cartons containing 27,200 spurious MPOD-200 Tablets worth ₹7.34 lakhs.
These counterfeit tablets were falsely labeled as being manufactured by Meg Lifesciences, a non-existent company. The authorities apprehended Aravapalli Satyanarayana, who had purchased the counterfeit drugs from Gandla Ramulu, and Vangari Naveen, who was found selling them.
Ramulu led investigators to Vishal Kumar of Kothdwar, Uttarakhand, revealing a larger network involved in manufacturing counterfeit drugs.
On 29 February , a team of officers raided Nectar Herbs and Drugs in Kothdwar, where they uncovered counterfeit Cefixime Tablets IP 200 mg, branded as Omnicef-O 200 Tablets and falsely labeled as manufactured by Aristo Pharmaceuticals Pvt. Ltd.
“These counterfeit tablets, produced by Sachin Kumar at the facility, were distributed across several states, including Telangana. Sachin, along with Vishal Kumar, the CEO of Nectar Herbs and Drugs, and worker Bhavana, was arrested,” said DCA.
The counterfeit drugs, along with fake packaging materials sourced from a printing press in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, were seized. The total value of the seized goods amounted to ₹44.33 lakhs
On 3 July, 2024, a major breakthrough in the fight against spurious drugs occurred when a joint operation led by the SOT Police, DCA, and the Pet Basheerabad Police uncovered an illegal drug manufacturing unit in Doolapally, Medchal-Malkajgiri District.
The operation dismantled a clandestine facility producing counterfeit versions of Eptoin Tablets (Phenytoin Tablets IP 100 mg) and Vasograin Tablets (Ergotamine, Caffeine, Paracetamol, and Prochlorperazine Tablets), falsely branded under reputed companies Abbott and Cadila Pharmaceuticals.
During the raid at an unlicensed premises near St. Martin’s Engineering College, officials seized spurious drugs worth ₹23 lakhs, including the counterfeit tablets and other materials used for manufacturing. The drugs were falsely labeled as products of Abbott Healthcare Pvt. Ltd. and Cadila Pharmaceuticals Ltd., with batch numbers and expiry dates that did not correspond to the original manufacturers.
“Girneni Gopal Rao, the key accused, was found to be overseeing the production of these counterfeit drugs. He also had counterfeit labels for other drugs, such as Acitrom Tablets and Stemetil MD 5mg, as well as packing materials for products from major pharmaceutical companies like Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories. Rao and his accomplice, B. Ramakrishna, was arrested during the operation,” said DCA in a statement.
(Edited by Ananya Rao)
