Police in Bengaluru have arrested Balasubramanian, a partner in DM Pharma, in connection with an interstate counterfeit drug racket. This arrest follows the apprehension of alleged kingpin Prashanth Rajan Babu. The Special Investigation Team is probing the supply chain, financial transactions, and distribution channels of fake medicines worth nearly Rs 5 crore, which were being relabelled as premium brands.
Prashanth Rajan Babu, the alleged kingpin of an interstate counterfeit drug racket, has been arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru after absconding in Azerbaijan. He is accused of leading a network that refilled cheap drugs and relabelled them as premium brands, with drugs worth Rs 5 crore seized earlier.
Prashanth Rajan Babu, the alleged kingpin of an interstate counterfeit drug racket, has been arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru after absconding to Azerbaijan. He is accused of leading a network that refilled cheap bulk drugs into new vials and relabelled them as premium imported brands, with a previous raid seizing fake medicines worth Rs 5 crore.
Prashanth Rajan Babu, the alleged kingpin of an interstate counterfeit drug racket, has been arrested at Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru. He had been absconding and was reportedly hiding in Azerbaijan. The arrest follows a major raid in August where fake medicines worth Rs 5 crore were seized, and a Special Investigation Team was formed to probe the network.
Karnataka Health Minister U T Khader announced the busting of a major interstate counterfeit drug racket, leading to an arrest and an ongoing investigation into the suspected supply of fake medicines to hospitals. The racket involved procuring cheap drugs, refilling them, and relabelling them as premium brands, with seizures worth Rs 5 crore. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been formed to probe the widespread network.
As the Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) is set to crack down on companies to ensure compliance with printing QR codes on top-selling brands to curb counterfeiting, top pharma companies say they welcome the regulator's mandate and that they are on track. They also view it as a positive step to ensure patient safety. Sheetal Arora, CEO of Mankind Pharmaceuticals, which has already adopted QR codes in 20 of their products, stated: "We strongly advocate for mandatory implementation of barcodes and QR codes on medicines as this initiative will not only protect patients but also strengthen the integrity of our healthcare system by reducing circulation of counterfeit drugs."
Two Indian nationals have been charged in a US federal court for their alleged involvement in a transnational scheme to distribute counterfeit Ozempic, a popular diabetes drug. The scheme involved obtaining fake drugs from China, deceptive packaging, and continued even after FDA warnings, with the accused facing significant jail time if convicted.
A medical store owner in Surat was arrested for allegedly repackaging veterinary liver tonic and selling it as paediatric medicine at double the price, raising serious public health concerns. Police raided his store, seized materials, and registered an FIR.
Surat Police have arrested a medical shop owner for allegedly repackaging veterinary feed supplement as paediatric medicine and selling it at a higher price. The accused transferred Himalaya Liv.52 Protec Liquid Veterinary Feed Supplement into smaller bottles and affixed counterfeit labels of Himalaya Liv.52 Drops, a product for children.
Delhi Police have dismantled an organised interstate racket involved in manufacturing and distributing counterfeit life-saving medicines, arresting six individuals and seizing fake drugs worth approximately Rs 2 crore. The investigation also revealed a network of fake GST firms used for generating bogus invoices and laundering money.
Authorities in Gurugram have uncovered a racket involving the manufacturing and sale of counterfeit Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injections, used for treating type 2 diabetes and aiding weight loss, leading to the arrest of two individuals and a nationwide alert.
An independent think tank on policing has called for a multi-agency investigation into the recent unearthing of a spurious Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injection manufacturing racket in Gurugram, offering free-of-cost forensic expertise.
Delhi Police have arrested four individuals involved in an interstate racket manufacturing and distributing counterfeit prescription drugs, uncovering an illegal processing unit in Delhi.
An illegal factory in Kotdwar, Uttarakhand, allegedly involved in producing fake medicines, has been sealed following a joint operation by the Uttarakhand STF and other departments.
Authorities in Gurugram have uncovered a racket involving the manufacturing and sale of counterfeit Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injections, used for treating type 2 diabetes and aiding weight loss. Two individuals have been arrested, and a nationwide alert has been issued to detect the fake injections.
Authorities in Gurugram have uncovered a racket involved in the manufacturing and sale of fake Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injections, used for treating diabetes and obesity. Two people have been arrested, and a nationwide alert has been issued to trace counterfeit batches.
A 56-year-old man from Delhi has been arrested for allegedly manufacturing and selling counterfeit weight loss powder and spurious Ayurvedic products online using duplicate branding.
The Delhi government's Drugs Control Department dismantled an illegal medicine sale operation in Shahdara, seizing a significant quantity of drugs and expired items.
Punjab Police busted a fake currency module in Malerkotla, arresting four individuals and seizing counterfeit currency worth Rs 5.50 lakh.
A vehicle carrying thousands of weight loss and diabetes injections was seized in Gurugram during a raid by the Drug Control Department.
A woman Food Safety Officer was targeted by suspected gutkha mafia operatives during a raid in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district. The incident, where a vehicle attempted to run her over, has led the state government to order strict action against those responsible. FDA Minister Narhari Zirwal condemned the attack and assured full support to the officer, vowing no leniency for assailants of government officials.
'Weight loss drugs can be life changing but are not without risks,' says Dr Vishnu Radhakrishnan as he explains the truth behind Ozempic and Mounjaro.
Indian pharmaceutical companies are stepping up their efforts to combat the problem of counterfeit drugs, employing a variety of strategies, from packaging innovations to engaging private investigation agencies. The stakes are high, as counterfeit medicines not only harm consumers but also tarnish the reputation of leading brands.
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has successfully intercepted and seized 512 kg of red sanders at Cochin Port, preventing its illegal export to China. The red sanders were concealed within a consignment declared as rubber core veneer.
The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that more than 30 percent of medicines sold in Africa, Asia, and Latin America are spurious.
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In an editorial, editor-in-chief Dr Graham Jackson, a UK-based Consultant Cardiologist, has called for greater public awareness of the dangers as well as consequences of the counterfeit drugs market.
The initiative will include special training for Customs and drug regulatory officials to identify spurious drugs, their origin, distribution chain and follow-up action to raid premises and book culprits, in coordination with regulatory and police officials of various countries.
Due to the massive short supply of Paxlovid, demand for Indian generic versions has gone up through Chinese e-commerce platforms.
The domestic drug industry is concerned over ongoing World Health Organisation negotiations that aim to bring non-health issues, having no direct implications on the safety of a drug, within the ambit of the definition of "counterfeit medicine".
Preventive detention is an extraordinary power in the hands of the state that must be used sparingly, said the Supreme Court as it set aside an order to detain a man indulging in money lending in Kerala.
The CBI has significantly increased the rate of fugitive repatriation, bringing back 134 individuals in the last five years, doubling the number from the previous decade. This success is attributed to enhanced diplomatic efforts, technological advancements, and improved coordination with Interpol.
Industry associations and companies in the United States, including the US Chamber of Commerce, Coalition of Services Industries and the iconic bike company Harley Davidson have called on the Donald Trump dispensation to push India to reduce tariffs, non-tariffs, and regulatory barriers to boost American exports.
While the top players of the over Rs 85,000 crore (Rs 850 billion) pharmaceutical business are up in arms over what they call rampant spread of counterfeit drugs (allegedly 20 to 25 per cent of total pharma sales) in the country, enforcement agencies and some pharma associations say the situation is not that alarming.
Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Monday asked enforcement agencies to go after 'big fish' involved in drug trafficking, saying they need to find who is sending 'mountains' of illegal drugs into the country.
A new study reveals how drug brand names are hijacked by online pharmacies that churn out spam e-mails and hawk counterfeit pills.
More lucrative routinely prescribed drugs are at higher risk of failing quality standards
Pharma firms will have to affix barcodes on consignments of all tertiary level packaging, such as cartons, following a government order.
Security agencies could track the flight path and even address of criminals involved in this cross-border illegal activity that is rearing its head over the last few years, he said on Saturday.
The South African government and large pharmaceutical companies are in combat mode regarding the proposed national policy on intellectual property that hopes to improve access to medicines for the poorer sections of the population.
