SIT to probe Rs 4.91 crore fake drug racket in Karnataka

BENGALURU: The Karnataka administration will be constituting a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe an alleged spurious drug racket involving illegal repacking and relabelling of medicines, with the Karnataka Food Safety and Drugs Administration (FDA) seizing drugs and other materials estimated to.

Key points

• When the FDA's Drug Enforcement Wing conducted an inspection at a farmhouse in Kurubarakeranahalli, Bidadi, the racket came to light after a tip-off on Tuesday.
• The team additionally seized 30 boxes of expired medicines, estimated at Rs 35 lakh.
• A police complaint was filed at Tavarekere Police Station.
• Authorities additionally discovered labels and a small machine allegedly employed for the repacking process.
• Scanning codes on the labels were discovered to be non-functional.

When the FDA's Drug Enforcement Wing conducted an inspection at a farmhouse in Kurubarakeranahalli, Bidadi, the racket came to light after a tip-off on Tuesday. Authorities identified the premises allegedly being applied to procure lower-cost medicines from other states, fill them into new vials and relabel them to resemble expensive multinational and imported drugs, including products bearing Pfizer's name.

Notably, the seized stock included 5, 640 vials of Cefiavigent 2.5 injection, valued at Rs 3.38crore, 1, 531 vials of Hizlam injectables worth Rs 52.24lakh, 470 vials of Xavitaz injection valued at Rs 27.49lakh, 264 vials of Emblaveo bearing the name Pfizer Limited worth Rs 20.59lakh, and 165 vials of Zavicefta injection valued at Rs 5.45lakh.

Notably, the team additionally seized 30 boxes of expired medicines, estimated at Rs 35 lakh.

Deputy Drug Controller Suresh Kempaiah remarked the suspects allegedly procured medicines at lower costs, opened the original vials, removed the powder and transferred it into new vials before applying labels of costly brands. Authorities additionally discovered labels and a small machine allegedly employed for the repacking process.

Scanning codes on the labels were discovered to be non-functional. The department is now tracing the entire supply chain to establish the source of the medicines, distributors involved and establishments to which the products may have been supplied. Batch numbers and entries relating to the seized drugs are being blocked on the Karnataka FDA portal.

Health Minister UT Khader remarked the department had no information so far to indicate that the medicines had been employed in administration hospitals in Karnataka, but remarked authorities would verify this.

For context, a police complaint was filed at Tavarekere Police Station. The SIT will now focus on tracing the wider network, movement of the suspected spurious medicines throughout states.

In short, SIT to probe Rs 4.91 crore fake drug racket in Karnataka is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.