The Ghaziabad Crime Branch, in a joint operation with the Drug Department, has uncovered a major racket involved in selling expired cancer medicines by replacing original labels with forged expiry dates. The network, which allegedly endangered the lives of critical cancer patients, was being run with the involvement of a pharmaceutical company owner and two accomplices, all of whom have now been arrested.
Authorities seized cancer medicines valued at ₹19 lakh, ₹8.85 lakh in cash, and an SUV from the accused. The confiscated stock includes high-value oncology drugs such as Keytruda, Inhertu, Giftib, Bilipsa, Casit, Zolasta, and Novotec—several of which were found to be expired.
Drug inspectors have sent samples of three medicines to the Gorakhpur laboratory for analysis. Officials emphasised that medicines issued for government (CGHS) use cannot be legally sold in the commercial market.
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Gang intercepted on Meerut Road; possible involvement of hospitals under scrutiny
ADCP Crime said the team had been monitoring the operation after receiving intelligence regarding illegal cancer drug trading. The accused were intercepted on Saturday evening near DPSG School on Meerut Road while transporting medicines in a vehicle.
The arrested individuals have been identified as:
- Vishwas Tyagi — Officers City, Raj Nagar Extension
- Aakash Sharma — Bhagwati Ashiana, Jagdishpura, Agra
- Prince — Resident of Muradnagar
Investigations revealed that the trio procured medicines through Care Hood (Ghaziabad), RB Enterprises (Chandni Chowk, Delhi) and Novita Pharma (Okhla). Names of Thriwa, Yatnesh and Brothers Pharma, firms based in Delhi and Mumbai, have also surfaced during the inquiry.
Officials suspect that certain hospitals may also be complicit, given the manner in which CGHS-related orders were being manipulated.
Expired drugs re-packaged with fresh expiry dates
A detailed examination of Novotec, one of the seized drugs, revealed that it had expired in May 2025. During interrogation, the accused confessed that expired medicines were sent to associates in Delhi, who removed original labels and printed new expiry dates before the drugs were pushed into the market.
Drug Inspector Vaibhav Babbar warned that expired medicines not only become medically ineffective but may also pose serious health risks if improperly stored.
Fake CGHS demand used to procure costly drugs cheaply — ₹2.16 lakh injection bought for just ₹20,000
Accused Vishwas Tyagi disclosed that he created fake medicine demand slips in the name of various hospitals for CGHS patients. This allowed the gang to procure high-value cancer drugs at extremely low prices.
One such drug, Keytruda, has:
- Market price: ₹2.16 lakh per vial
- Cost to the accused: Just ₹20,000
The medicines were then sold at inflated rates across several states through local intermediaries. Aakash Sharma was responsible for managing logistics and distribution of the supply chain.
Tyagi had previous history — linked to a patient’s death in 2022
Police said that Tyagi earlier operated a firm named Medicine Hub. In 2022, a cancer patient in Maharashtra reportedly died after consuming a defective drug supplied through his firm. A formal case was filed against him at the time.
Despite this, Tyagi continued operating discreetly. Drug Department officials stated that his office was closed after the 2023 case, and he publicly shifted to producing music videos, while covertly remaining active in the pharmaceutical black market.
Officials admitted that the incident raises serious questions about regulatory oversight and the monitoring of high-risk life-saving medicines.
