Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya commended the bravery and dedication of two officers from the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) who successfully raided a major gang in Kolkata, seizing counterfeit and adulterated drugs worth over Rs 2 crore. The officers, Yashpal Singh and Rakesh Sharma, were applauded by the Minister for their commitment to putting an end to the distribution of spurious medicines. In a tweet, Mandaviya assured that the Modi government would not compromise on stopping the circulation of adulterated drugs.
The operation was initiated based on a complaint received from Sun Pharma Laboratories Limited via email on January 11, 2023, regarding the selling and storage of suspected spurious drugs at SENCO, Bagri Market in Kolkata. Under the supervision of Dr. Kamal K Halder (ADC, CDSCO-East Zone), a team of officers from CDSCO East Zone, along with assistance from the Directorate of Drugs Control, West Bengal, conducted a raid at Bagri Market. During this raid, they seized counterfeit drugs from various prominent manufacturers, with an estimated value of around 10 lakhs INR. Additionally, one person was arrested by a Drug Inspector under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Further investigations led to a major breakthrough when an arrested suspect disclosed vital information. This led the officers to identify an unlicensed warehouse at Moulana Shaukat Ali Street, Kolkata, which was under surveillance for several days. With confirmation of the presence of suspicious goods and individuals, another raid was conducted on July 8, 2023. This time, officers from CDSCO East Zone, along with the Directorate of Drugs Control, West Bengal, and under the guidance of Dr. Kamal K Halder (ADC) and Arup Chatterjee (DDC and Head of Office, CDSCO-East Zone), apprehended more counterfeit drugs and individuals.
The investigation is still ongoing to identify the manufacturer and the entire supply chain involved in the production and distribution of counterfeit drugs. The primary goal is to ensure the supply of genuine and safe medicines for consumption by the general public. The joint efforts of CDSCO officers and other agencies in this operation have been lauded as a significant step towards curbing the menace of counterfeit drugs in the country.