Agra: The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) of Uttar Pradesh has taken major action against a large interstate network allegedly involved in the illegal sale and trafficking of fake and government-supplied medicines. After investigation, the department has cancelled the licences of 58 medical firms. According to officials, the racket was involved in the illegal distribution of government supply medicines, life-saving drugs and counterfeit pharmaceutical products.
The operation was carried out under the direction of FSDA Commissioner Dr. Roshan Jacob, with Agra emerging as the centre of the investigation. Several medical firms and warehouses were inspected during the campaign, and medicines worth crores of rupees have been seized so far. The investigation has revealed that the network has links beyond Uttar Pradesh, including Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttarakhand.
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Two Firms Sealed During Third Phase of Agra Raids
During the third phase of the operation, FSDA teams conducted raids at 13 medical firms in Agra. Following the detection of irregularities, two firms were sealed, while restrictions were imposed on the purchase and sale activities of two other firms.
The department has initiated action against 14 operators of these firms. Officials have submitted complaints for registration of FIRs at three different police stations. Investigators are now examining financial transactions, supply chains and the involvement of other individuals connected with these firms.
Medicines Worth Crores and Fake Packaging Material Recovered
FSDA teams had already conducted two major phases of action in Agra. During these operations, medicines worth around ₹3.72 crore were seized and four warehouses were sealed. A total of six FIRs have been registered in connection with the case so far.
During the investigation, medicines worth approximately ₹2.50 crore, including insulin, vaccines and medicines meant for Military-NSI Hospital, were recovered from Jyoti Drug House in May. Officials found serious irregularities while verifying the source and legality of these medicines.
In another case, fake oxygen DP products worth around ₹50 lakh were seized from a medical agency. During a raid in Roorkee, Uttarakhand, fake packaging material was also recovered, indicating that medicines were allegedly being repackaged and relabelled on a large scale.
Illegal Relabelling of Government Medicines Exposed
In June, an inspection at the premises of Bright Pharma’s operator revealed illegal relabelling of government-supplied and life-saving medicines worth around ₹5.20 lakh. Apart from this, illegal medicines and physician samples worth approximately ₹67 lakh were recovered from the warehouses of Sumit Gupta and CF Enterprises.
According to FSDA officials, the accused were allegedly attempting to sell government-supplied medicines in the open market by changing their identity and packaging. Such activities not only cause financial losses to government systems but also pose serious risks to patients’ lives.
Network Spread Across Multiple States, Probe Continues
The investigation has revealed that the network was not limited to Agra alone. Its connections have been traced to Haryana, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Delhi and Uttarakhand. Authorities are now investigating the complete supply chain to determine where counterfeit medicines were manufactured and how they reached the market.
Assistant Commissioner of Drugs Atul Upadhyay said that fake and substandard medicines fail to provide proper treatment and can worsen patients’ health conditions. He added that adulteration in antibiotics can seriously affect treatment outcomes and create additional health risks.
The department has appealed to citizens to report the sale of fake or suspicious medicines on the helpline number 18001805533. FSDA officials have made it clear that strict action against those involved in counterfeit medicine trade will continue.
About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
