The investigation into Agra’s fake drug mafia took a dramatic turn when videos went viral showing large quantities of medicines being burnt in the Nagla Gadi forest along the Yamuna banks in the Tajganj area.
Medicines with expiry dates of 2027 and 2029, including antibiotics and anti-allergy drugs from multiple companies, were partially saved from the fire. Suspecting these to be fake or illegally distributed, the Special Task Force (STF) and the Drug Department seized the recovered stock for investigation.
STF Inspector Yatendra Sharma confirmed that batch numbers, QR codes, and manufacturing details are being verified with the respective pharmaceutical companies. An FIR is set to be registered on Friday in connection with the incident.
Warehouses Raided, Crores Worth of Medicines Seized
Simultaneously, joint STF and Drug Department teams conducted raids on four warehouses in Agra, including two linked to Bansal Medical Agency. Medicines worth crores of rupees were found stored in these facilities.
- Two companies’ medicines were found suspicious.
- Samples have been sent to laboratories for testing.
- Bills and records recovered from Bansal Medical Agency and Hey Maa Medico have linked two more firms under investigation.
Assistant Commissioner of Medicine Atul Upadhyay said the drug consignments’ details have been forwarded to manufacturers for internal investigation.
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Interstate Links: Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, Lucknow
The probe revealed that illegal drug consignments were being routed from Puducherry and Tamil Nadu, with consignments received under the names of Baba Pharma and Parvati Traders in Lucknow.
When STF officials reached Lucknow for investigation, the firms were found locked and the accused had absconded. Cases have been registered against their operators, while further raids are being planned.
Mafia’s Tactics and Trader Complaints
STF sources indicate that the fake medicine mafia uses multiple fronts and networks, often mixing counterfeit medicines with genuine stock to avoid detection. The recent burning of drugs in Agra is suspected to be a cover-up attempt to destroy incriminating evidence.
At the same time, STF officials acknowledged receiving complaints from traders alleging false implication threats by rival elements. Inspector Yatendra Sharma urged medicine traders to report any such intimidation directly to the STF, ensuring that legitimate businesses are protected during the probe.
Growing Concern Over Fake Medicine Networks
The Agra case underscores a larger nationwide problem of counterfeit drugs, which not only threatens public health but also undermines trust in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Authorities have stressed the need for:
- Stronger tracking mechanisms for drug distribution.
- Stricter warehousing audits.
- Greater use of digital QR codes and authentication technologies to verify medicine origins.
With warehouses sealed, samples under forensic testing, and interstate links being tracked, the STF has promised a phased crackdown on the fake medicine mafia, signaling that more arrests and seizures are imminent.