Telangana Authorities Bust Pharma Unit Exporting Fake Antibiotics Worth ₹1.33 Crore
In a significant crackdown, Telangana’s Drugs Control Administration (DCA) seized counterfeit antibiotics valued at ₹1.33 crore during a raid at a pharmaceutical facility in Siddipet district’s Karakapatla area. The company is accused of illegally exporting fake drugs to Russia under false labels, violating the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Spurious Drugs Uncovered
Acting on reliable intelligence, DCA officials conducted a raid on November 26 at the facility located in Biotech Park. The operation revealed large quantities of mislabelled antibiotics stored in the Finished Goods Warehouse. Among the seized drugs was a batch of Ampicillin Sulbactam injections (Batch No. JD4479), falsely labelled as being manufactured by Jodas Expoim Pvt. Ltd. and Alpa Laboratories, Indore. Investigators discovered that this batch was actually produced by a firm in Cherlapally, Telangana.
Further inspections showed that other mislabelled antibiotics, including Amoxicillin and Meropenem, had already been exported to Russia in October and November under fraudulent claims.
Officials Act Swiftly
The raid was led by Assistant Director P. Ramu and a team of Drugs Inspectors—S. Vinay Sushmi, Karthik Siva Chaitanya, T. Shiva Teja, and P. Chandrakala. Drug samples have been sent for analysis, and officials have confirmed that legal actions will follow against those involved in the illicit trade.
History of Pharma Raids
This isn’t the first time the DCA has taken decisive action against illegal activities in the pharmaceutical sector. Earlier this year, in February and March, authorities busted several units involved in producing and selling fake or overpriced drugs. In February, they seized 118 kg of illegal drugs worth ₹5.50 lakh from a Hyderabad-based company that had been ordered to cease operations a year earlier. Similarly, overpriced antibiotic vials were confiscated in Nizamabad for being sold at nearly double their regulated price.
A Warning for the Industry
The latest seizure highlights the DCA’s commitment to cracking down on unethical practices in the pharmaceutical industry. As investigations continue, this operation serves as a stark reminder of the need for vigilance and accountability in the production and sale of medicines.
News Source : “Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.”
