Bengaluru: The Karnataka food safety and drugs administration (FDA) seized medicines, machinery and printing material worth Rs 5 crore after busting an alleged spurious drug racket operating from a farmhouse in Bidadi.Acting on a tip-off, a team from the FDA’s drug enforcement wing conducted an inspection at a farmhouse in Bidadi’s Kurubarakeranahalli Friday. According to the department, the premises were being used to procure low-cost medicines from neighbouring states, refill them into new vials and relabel them as expensive medicines, including products carrying forged Pfizer labels.The FDA said the seized labels also carried QR codes that were found to be non-functional when checked. It alleged the spurious medicines could contain no active medicinal ingredients, wrong ingredients or even toxic substances. Samples of the seized products have been sent to laboratories to verify their chemical composition, sterility and potency.The seized stock included 5,640 vials of Cefiavigent 2.5 injection valued at almost Rs 3.4 crore; 1,531 vials of Hizlam injectables valued at Rs 52.2 lakh; and 30 boxes of expired drugs valued at Rs 35 lakh. The FDA also seized injection-filling machinery and forged labels and stamps.A criminal case has been registered under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940. Conviction under the section carries a minimum of 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment and can extend to life imprisonment, besides a fine.The investigation has been extended to trace the supply chain, with a special investigation team probing the network and efforts on to arrest those involved.As part of the follow-up action, the FDA said 16 drug licences of retailers and wholesalers have been cancelled and eight suspended. The licence of M/s Pfizer C&F depot at Kempalinganahalli in Nelamangala taluk has also been suspended.The department said batch numbers and entries of the seized drugs are being blocked on the Karnataka FDA portal to prevent their further distribution or sale. It advised consumers to buy medicines only from licensed pharmacies and obtain valid tax invoices.
