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Delhi Police’s Special Crime Branch raided a fake medicated skin cream factory in Ghaziabad’s Loni Mirpur area on Sunday, arresting two accused running a sophisticated counterfeit network. Interrogation revealed shocking profit margins and dangerous chemical use in products mimicking reputed brands.
₹2 Cost Cream Sold at ₹100 Retail
Accused admitted using cheap, substandard chemicals costing just ₹1.5-2 per tube to manufacture fake skin creams. These were packaged in name-brand materials and supplied to wholesale markets at ₹12-15 per tube, reaching retail at ₹70-100, generating massive profits.
The operation targeted areas with lax vendor checks where customers bought based on brand familiarity rather than authenticity verification.
Network Expanded Beyond Delhi-NCR
Initially small-scale, the racket grew with demand, extending supply chains beyond Delhi-NCR to regions with minimal drug seller scrutiny. Police probing bulk buyers, medical store operators and full distribution chain for further arrests. Accused amassed significant wealth quickly through sustained fake cream sales, prompting deeper financial investigation.
Health Risks from Harmful Chemicals
Experts warn fake creams cause severe skin damage instead of treatment: burning, red rashes, itching, allergies, skin darkening, and thinning from prolonged steroid/chemical use. Natural skin immunity weakens, leading to chronic issues. Such products pose public health emergency beyond mere fraud, undermining legitimate pharmaceutical trust.
Wholesale-Retail Profit Chain Exposed
Factory produced thousands of tubes daily with sealing machines, labels imitating major brands. Wholesale markup from ₹2 production to ₹12-15, then retail ₹70-100 created lucrative margins fueling network expansion.
Police sending seized samples for lab analysis to confirm non-compliance with manufacturing standards.
Planned Further Arrests and Raids
Investigation traces suppliers, financiers, logistics partners in counterfeit racket. Delhi Police coordinating with Drugs Control Department to dismantle entire syndicate.
Case highlights organised fake pharma networks exploiting weak verification, endangering consumers nationwide.
