The Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted an interstate racket that manufactured counterfeit medicines under the guise of the painkiller tramadol and sold them as a cheaper alternative to heroin. A raid on an illegal factory operating in Gaya, Bihar, led to the seizure of large quantities of fake drugs, raw material and tablet-making machinery. Nine accused, including the alleged kingpin Arun, have been arrested, while efforts are on to identify other members of the network.
Investigators said the gang procured smuggled tramadol powder, processed it into tablets and supplied them through illegal medical stores and fake clinics at inflated prices. The pills were widely circulated among drug users as a substitute for heroin, fuelling narcotics abuse while also posing a serious public health risk to unsuspecting patients who believed they were buying legitimate medicines.
The racket came to light after the arrest of an accused, Tanishk Jha, last week. During interrogation, he revealed details of the manufacturing unit in Gaya. Acting on the lead, a Crime Branch team conducted a raid and found that large-scale drug production was being carried out without the presence of a qualified manufacturing chemist or analytical chemist. Fake tablets, injection vials, packaging material and heavy tablet-compression machines were recovered from the premises.
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According to officials, the factory was registered in the name of a private firm and had permission only to produce a limited number of tablets for testing purposes. The licence was allegedly misused to manufacture counterfeit medicines on a commercial scale and supply them to multiple cities, including Delhi. A joint operation by the Delhi Police and the state drug control department also led to the busting of two bogus drug manufacturing units.
Seizures included around 119,800 counterfeit zinc tablets, 42,480 azithromycin tablets, 27 kg of paracetamol powder and 444 fake injectable ampoules. In addition, tramadol raw material valued at over ₹5 crore in the international market was recovered. Investigators said the gang was not limited to tramadol but was also producing fake antibiotics, painkillers and other commonly used medicines.
The counterfeit drugs were packaged to closely resemble well-known brands, making it difficult for chemists and patients to detect the fraud. Health experts warn that such medicines can have life-threatening consequences. Incorrect dosages and impure chemical composition can slow breathing, impair brain function, damage the liver and kidneys and, in severe cases, trigger heart attacks or seizures. Unregulated tramadol use is highly addictive and overdose can be fatal.
Police said the syndicate operated through a structured supply chain involving raw material smugglers, manufacturers, packers and distributors. The network spanned several states, and authorities are now preparing a list of illegal medical stores and suppliers linked to the operation. Further raids are being conducted to dismantle the distribution channels.
The Crime Branch described the fake drug trade as not merely an economic offence but a grave threat to public health. Officials said the accused exploited loopholes in the licensing system to make quick profits by mass-producing counterfeit medicines. Coordination with drug control authorities has been intensified to completely choke the supply chain.
The operation is being seen as one of the largest recent crackdowns on counterfeit pharmaceuticals. Police indicated that more arrests are likely as the investigation expands to other states and additional links in the network are traced.
About the author – Rehan Khan is a law student and legal journalist with a keen interest in cybercrime, digital fraud, and emerging technology laws. He writes on the intersection of law, cybersecurity, and online safety, focusing on developments that impact individuals and institutions in India.
