Digital New Guru New Delhi Desk:
Delhi Police Crack Down on Fake Medicine Network
The Delhi Police Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) has unearthed and dismantled a sophisticated interstate fake medicine manufacturing network, seizing massive quantities of counterfeit drugs — including approximately 27 kg of paracetamol powder and over 40,000 fake antibiotic pills — in a major law-enforcement crackdown that highlights a growing threat to public health and safety.
Operation and Arrests
On 14 February 2026, Delhi Police announced the raid on an illegal medicine production unit in Gaya district, Bihar, that was reportedly linked to an organised syndicate involved in producing and distributing spurious drugs across state lines. In this operation, officers arrested nine people, including the alleged key orchestrator of the racket, identified as Arun (59 years old), who was reportedly operating the manufacturing setup without any valid pharmaceutical licences or qualified chemists.
Police described the factory as highly organised, equipped with heavy machinery for tablet production and a stockpile of raw materials and finished fake medicines. The action came after months of investigative work by the ANTF, involving technical surveillance, human intelligence, and coordinated tracking across state borders.
Seized Counterfeit Drugs and Equipment
The quantity and variety of seized items underscored the scale of the illegal operation:
- About 27 kg of paracetamol powder, a common painkiller and fever-reducing drug.
- 42,000+ fake azithromycin tablets, an antibiotic often prescribed for bacterial infections.
- Nearly 1.2 lakh spurious zinc tablets.
- 444 fake ampoules of Dilona Aqua — injectable solutions of doubtful sterility and origin.
- Heavy machinery and equipment used in large-scale drug manufacturing.
According to police, some of these drugs — especially those made from smuggled tramadol powder — were being marketed as painkillers and were allegedly used as cheaper or ready-available substitutes for more controlled substances, including heroin, on the illegal drug market.
Health Risks and Public Safety Concerns
Counterfeit medicines pose grave risks to public health because they lack verified composition, proper dosage, and quality control — and some may even contain toxic or impure substances. When such products enter the legitimate supply chain through unscrupulous pharmacies or medical outlets, they can lead to treatment failures, adverse drug reactions, or worse.
Police officials have also highlighted that tramadol tablets produced in this factory — which may be misused as substitutes for more dangerous drugs — represent a dual danger: both as counterfeit medical products and as potential contributors to substance abuse.
How the Network Functioned
Investigators revealed that the syndicate was not isolated to one location. The accused had ties stretching back to a prior raid in Patna, where a similar fake drug factory was uncovered last week. Delhi Police believe the operation was part of a larger interstate narcotics and counterfeit pharmaceutical racket moving fake medicines from production hubs into markets in multiple states.
Authorities noted that the suspects procured raw materials — including illegally imported tramadol powder — processed them into pills using unregulated equipment, and then distributed the finished products through bogus medical outlets, sham pharmacies, and clandestine networks.
Law Enforcement Response and Legal Action
Following the raid, the ANTF registered cases under multiple laws, including the Drugs and Cosmetics Act — which governs the manufacture and distribution of pharmaceuticals — and other applicable provisions of the Indian Penal Code related to public safety and organised crime.
Senior police officials stressed that this operation represents a major blow to the counterfeit medicine syndicate, which had been supplying fake drugs that could endanger patients and consumers. By dismantling this facility and apprehending key figures, the Delhi Police aim to disrupt the supply chain and prevent further circulation of unsafe pharmaceuticals.
Further investigations are underway to identify other individuals associated with the drug cartel, track distribution routes, and uncover additional illicit production units that may still be in operation.
Growing Concern Over Counterfeit Drugs in India
This bust comes amid broader concerns about counterfeit and substandard drugs infiltrating the Indian market. Health regulators and law-enforcement agencies have repeatedly warned that illegal drug manufacturing — whether of life-saving medications or common over-the-counter drugs — poses serious risks to patients, particularly in regions where regulatory oversight is weak or enforcement is challenged by complex criminal networks.
Experts say such operations exploit gaps in licensing enforcement, the high demand for cheap medicines, and the challenges of monitoring widespread distribution networks that can move illicit products through pharmacies and online channels.
Public Advisory
Police and health officials have encouraged the public to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies, check packaging and expiry dates carefully, and report any suspicious products or outlets to authorities. They also emphasise that self-medication with unverified drugs can be dangerous and recommend consulting qualified healthcare providers for prescriptions and guidance.
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