A sweeping investigation into counterfeit and narcotics-linked pharmaceuticals in Agra has widened after drug control authorities sealed a wholesale medicine outlet suspected of storing illegal consignments worth crores. The operation, carried out this week, marks one of the most significant crackdowns on the city’s pharmaceutical trade in recent years.
Officials from the state drug department, acting on intelligence reports, raided Shri Radhe Agency in the busy Moti Katra market. Finding the premises locked, the team broke open the shutter to conduct an inspection. Inside, investigators believe they uncovered stock valued at nearly ₹20 crore, raising concerns about the scale of illicit medicine circulation. The agency was subsequently sealed, and a notice was pasted on its entrance.
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Expanding Raids on Multiple Agencies
The raid followed ongoing inspections at two other local distributors, Hey Maa Medico and Bansal Medical Agency, which have been under scrutiny since August 22. Sources said both firms are being probed for their role in distributing counterfeit drugs and possibly narcotics-laced formulations.
Witnesses in Moti Katra told officials that Shri Radhe Agency had remained shut since the initial round of inspections earlier this month, though individuals were spotted intermittently removing cartons of stock. Investigators said this raised suspicions that large quantities of counterfeit drugs may have already been moved out.
According to drug inspector Om Pal Singh from Kanpur, the decision to seal the premises was taken to prevent further diversion of goods until a full inventory and forensic analysis can be conducted. The ongoing raids also extend to godowns associated with Hey Maa Medico and Bansal Medical Agency.
Counterfeit Allegations and Legal Action
The crackdown gained urgency after drug authorities intercepted a consignment of Allegra 120 mg tablets reportedly worth ₹78.67 lakh. The stock, seized from Hey Maa Medico, was tested by pharmaceutical company Sanofi, which confirmed the batch was counterfeit. Officials have indicated that a case may soon be registered under the Copyright Act and other provisions of Indian law. Legal proceedings are expected against alleged operator Himanshu Agrawal and others linked to the distribution network.
The investigation is ongoing with coordination between the state drug department, company representatives, and law enforcement agencies. Authorities believe more revelations are likely as they examine financial records, supply chains, and possible links to wider narcotics trafficking.
For Agra’s pharmaceutical trade, a lifeline for thousands of patients in the region, the case has highlighted vulnerabilities in drug regulation and enforcement at a time when counterfeit medicines pose growing risks to public health.