Lucknow — The extent of the counterfeit medicine trade in Uttar Pradesh can be gauged from the recently exposed network. After a large consignment was seized in Agra, the probe has now expanded to Lucknow and the surrounding districts. Initial investigations by police and STF suggest that this network was not limited to local areas but was supplying medicines to several districts.
According to sources, the activities of several suspected pharmaceutical business establishments are being thoroughly examined. Districts such as Kanpur, Moradabad, Sitapur, and Barabanki are also said to be under the scanner.
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Central Agencies on Alert
The Central Bureau of Narcotics (CBN) recently uncovered a case in Lucknow involving counterfeit medicines and illegal supply of codeine syrup. Within just three days of operations, thousands of bottles were seized. Officials said these medicines were mainly being distributed among youth and small-town markets.
Businessmen’s Role Suspect
Preliminary interrogations reveal that some licensed distributors linked to the pharmaceutical trade are also under suspicion. A senior officer, requesting anonymity, said, “Such supply is not possible without the involvement of local networks and pharma channels. We suspect that everyone from small medical stores to large distributors may be involved.”
Public Concern
Seema Verma, a Lucknow resident whose son regularly takes asthma medication, said, “Every time we fear whether the medicine we buy is genuine or fake. If government agencies themselves keep catching such networks, how can the common man’s trust survive?”
Expert Opinion
Pharmaceutical expert Dr. Rakesh Tripathi believes that the spread of counterfeit medicines is not just a crime but a public health crisis. “It not only plays with people’s lives but also reduces trust in genuine medicines. This problem cannot be solved by raids alone, but by making the entire supply chain transparent.”
The Road Ahead
Investigating agencies said more raids will be conducted in Lucknow and other districts in the coming days. Police claim that three to four kingpins of this syndicate are still absconding, and efforts are on to trace them.