By Chandan Singh | Page 3 News Worldwide | New Delhi
New Delhi: Acting on the directions of Delhi Health Minister Dr. Pankaj Kumar Singh, the Delhi Drugs Control Department, in coordination with the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Haryana, and Delhi Police, has dismantled a major illegal drug manufacturing and stocking racket operating from a residential apartment complex in Narela during a two-day enforcement operation.
The joint crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of suspected counterfeit medicines, anabolic steroids, chemical raw materials, manufacturing equipment, packaging materials and other evidence linked to the alleged illicit operation. Officials said the raid was launched following specific intelligence inputs regarding the movement of suspected spurious medicines from the premises.
On the first day of the operation, enforcement teams uncovered an unlicensed drug manufacturing and packaging unit inside the apartment. Authorities recovered sealing machines, crimping devices, heat guns, electric stirrers, precision weighing scales, industrial filter paper, laboratory glassware and thousands of unlabelled tablets suspected to be Tofacitinib, along with anabolic steroid vials and chemical solutions allegedly used in drug preparation.
According to officials, the occupant claimed the apartment had been rented for stocking and packaging allopathic medicines and stated that the operation was being managed by another individual reportedly linked to a manufacturing facility in Sonepat. However, no valid drug licence, purchase records or stock registers were produced during the inspection.
Based on fresh intelligence, officials returned to the premises on the second day and recovered additional concealed consignments hidden inside electric utility shafts across multiple floors. The recovered stock included bulk steroid hormone powders, more than 1,500 finished steroid injection vials, over 5,000 loose tablets, more than 5,000 empty glass and amber vials, nearly 2,500 packaging boxes, thousands of flip-off caps and several documents believed to be connected with the alleged network.
The seized materials have been taken into custody under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, while statutory samples have been sent for laboratory analysis. Preliminary findings indicate prima facie violations of Sections 18, 18A and 18B of the Act relating to the illegal manufacture, stocking and distribution of drugs without valid licences.
To maintain transparency and preserve evidence, the entire search and seizure process was videographed, with digital hash values generated on-site to ensure the integrity of electronic evidence.
Health Minister Dr. Pankaj Kumar Singh reiterated the Delhi Government’s commitment to safeguarding public health, stating that fake and spurious medicines pose a grave threat to citizens and that those involved in such activities would face the strictest legal action. He commended the coordinated efforts of the Delhi Drugs Control Department, FDA Haryana and Delhi Police, and reaffirmed the government’s zero-tolerance policy against those endangering public health through counterfeit medicines.
The Minister said investigations are continuing to identify the entire network, trace the origin and distribution chain of the seized products, and apprehend those allegedly involved in the illegal operation. Authorities are proceeding with further legal action under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
