A major racket manufacturing counterfeit and substandard medicines has been busted in a joint operation by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and local police. The gang specialized in altering the expiry dates of health products, syrups, and snacks—particularly those intended for children—and selling them in the market. During the raid, counterfeit and expired goods worth crores of rupees were seized from the warehouse.
Acting on a tip-off, a police team raided a large warehouse located on the outskirts of the city. Operations were underway on a massive scale, involving the replacement of wrappers on old medicines and food items with new ones bearing fresh manufacturing and expiry dates. These products were not only hazardous to health but also posed a serious threat to children's lives.
Investigating officers discovered printing machines, counterfeit wrappers, bottles of chemicals, and large quantities of expired products at the site. Gang members would procure old, discarded, or cheap medicines and repackage them into boxes of expensive, branded products. These were then distributed through the supply chain to small medical stores and markets across various states.
The police have arrested six individuals, including the gang's ringleader, at the scene. Cases have been registered against the accused under serious sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act. Officials stated that the gang had been active for several months and had expanded its network across multiple states.
Health experts have warned that expired and counterfeit medicines can prove fatal for children. The administration has initiated inspections of all medical stores where the gang had supplied its goods. The public is also urged to thoroughly check the packaging and holograms of any medicines or baby food products before purchasing them.