Lucknow has become a supply hub of fake medicines, wholesale traders up to Aminabad-Transport Nagar are being investigated, this network is active from Western UP to Varanasi.

Lucknow. In the Bakshi Ka Talab (BKT) area of ​​Lucknow, the capital of UP, the police, along with the Food Safety Department, have exposed a large network of fake medicines. After this, the investigating agencies have intensified the investigation into the network of fake medicines spread across the state. According to the indications found in the initial investigation, this syndicate of fake medicines is not limited to the capital only, but may be active from UP West to Varanasi. The wires of this network are also connected to other states like Delhi, Haryana, Kolkata and Indore, from where these medicines were being bought and sold through fake bills.

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Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) and police are now connecting every link of the supply chain. So far, preliminary investigation has revealed that Lucknow was used by this network as the main distribution centre. After the consignment of medicines reached here, it was sent to the surrounding districts and towns. It is feared that through some wholesale traders, fake medicines were being sold in the market along with genuine medicines, due to which the health of the patients was at serious risk. FSDA and the police are now closely examining the purchase and sale bills, stock registers, transport documents and the role of people associated with the supply chain. Officials believe that as the investigation progresses, action may be taken in many other districts also.

Businessmen of Aminabad and Transport Nagar on radar

After the action taken in BKT, the scope of investigation has been rapidly expanded. Based on initial evidence, the role of some wholesale drug dealers of Aminabad and Transport Nagar has come under investigation. Officials believe that the matter is not limited to just one consignment, but there is an organized supply network behind it, many layers of which are yet to be revealed.

Inquiry with courier company also

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Based on the information received from the arrested accused, the investigation team is now investigating the purchase and sale of medicines, billing records, stock register and transport documents. Besides, it is being ascertained where the fake medicines were prepared and through what means they reached the capital. Inquiries are also going on with the courier company. CCTV footage is being scrutinized to identify those who made the booking. The investigating agencies are also trying to find out through which wholesalers the preparations were being made to launch these medicines in the market.

Indications of many big revelations

FSDA is now also keeping an eye on those establishments where suspiciously large quantities of drugs have been purchased or sold in recent months. Officials believe that as each link of the supply chain is revealed, many big names associated with the network may be exposed. If necessary, raids will be conducted on the concerned establishments and detailed examination of documents will also be conducted.

An important aspect of the investigation is to examine the brands, packaging and batch numbers used in counterfeit medicines to ascertain the quantity of such medicines that have reached the market. If irregularities are found in the records, strict action will be taken against the concerned license holders.

Experts say that the trade of fake medicines is not only an economic crime but also a serious threat to the lives of people. In such cases, it is necessary to reach every link of the supply chain, so that such networks can be effectively curbed in future.

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FSDA Assistant Commissioner Brajesh Kumar said that the entire network is being searched to crack down on the traders of fake medicines. Many wholesale traders are under investigation. Soon major action will be taken and people associated with this business will not be spared at any cost.

Agra is the second largest center of this syndicate.

Recently, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) of Uttar Pradesh has taken the biggest and most decisive action so far in Agra and exposed the layers of an organized drug syndicate worth crores of rupees. Special teams of 15 drug inspectors, led by FSDA Commissioner Dr. Roshan Jacob, conducted simultaneous raids at multiple locations and unearthed counterfeit medicines, black marketing of life-saving medicines from government hospitals, fake billing, illegal re-labelling, sale of physician samples and interstate networks. After the action, a complaint has been filed to register three new FIRs against 14 operators. With this, the number of cases registered in the entire campaign has reached 9 and the number of canceled or suspended wholesale licenses has reached 58.