Agra: The Uttar Pradesh Drug Department has cancelled the licences of 29 wholesale drug dealers in Agra as part of a major crackdown on long-inactive pharmaceutical businesses suspected of being used for illegal activities. According to officials, the firms had obtained wholesale drug licences but were not engaged in regular business operations and failed to produce records of drug purchases or sales. Authorities suspect such licences could be misused for the illegal trade of counterfeit medicines, narcotic drugs, banned pharmaceuticals, government-supplied medicines, and physician samples. Similar verification drives are currently underway across the state.
Officials said the action follows directions issued by Drug Commissioner Dr. Roshan Jacob to identify licence holders who had secured wholesale drug licences but remained inactive for extended periods. During the verification process, authorities found that several licence holders were not operating from the main pharmaceutical market, lacked evidence of regular commercial activity, and were unable to produce invoices or transaction records. Considering these irregularities, the department initiated proceedings to cancel their licences.
According to pharmaceutical industry sources, Agra has around 3,000 wholesale drug licence holders. Of these, approximately 1,000 to 1,200 actively operate from the city’s principal wholesale medicine market at Fawwara. However, the whereabouts and business activities of nearly 1,800 other licence holders remain unclear. Even local pharmaceutical associations reportedly have limited information about many of these businesses, raising concerns over the possible misuse of inactive licences.
Officials believe that some licence holders may have been using valid drug licences as a cover for illegal operations. Acting on these concerns, the Drug Department launched a verification exercise to identify firms that had remained inactive for long periods despite holding valid licences. Authorities said businesses failing to comply with regulatory requirements under pharmaceutical laws and licensing norms would continue to face strict action.
The investigation has so far identified 29 licence holders in Agra who had remained inactive for an extended period. According to sources, many of these firms were registered at addresses located outside the city’s main wholesale pharmaceutical market, and officials could not establish evidence of legitimate business operations. As a result, their licences were cancelled on suspicion that they could potentially be misused for unlawful activities. The department is continuing its scrutiny of other licence holders whose business activities appear suspicious.
Assistant Drug Commissioner Dr. Atul Upadhyay said the department is systematically cancelling the licences of businesses that have remained inactive for long periods. He added that some licence holders had voluntarily expressed their willingness to surrender their licences. So far, 29 licences have been cancelled, and inspections and verification exercises will continue. The objective, he said, is to improve transparency in the pharmaceutical distribution system and eliminate opportunities for illegal drug trading.
Officials said the ongoing drive includes verification of business documents, stock registers, purchase and sale invoices, licensing records, and other commercial documents maintained by wholesale drug firms. If any firm is found involved in the illegal trade of counterfeit medicines, restricted pharmaceuticals, government-supplied drugs, physician samples, or any other unlawful activity, appropriate legal action will be initiated in accordance with the law. The department has made it clear that the statewide enforcement campaign will continue and that no leniency will be shown towards licence holders found violating regulatory provisions.
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.
