Racket smuggling illegal drugs from UP busted

Hyderabad: The Drugs Control Administration (DCA), in a joint operation with the special task force, prohibition and excise department, busted a racket that transported spurious drugs from Uttar Pradesh to Telangana through couriers. Spurious drugs, including antibiotics and narcotic drugs like fentanyl, worth ` 6.91 lakh were seized during the joint operation.

The accused, Gandla Ramulu, was stated to have a record in spurious drug cases and worked with Munishekhar, a resident of Proddutur, Andhra Pradesh. Both were apprehended after the operation on Friday.

The DCA officials also conducted raids on Thursday targeting unqualified medical practitioners claiming to be rural medical practitioners and operating clinics without proper qualifications. The raids were conducted at Bijwar in Utkoor mandal of Narayanpet district ; Bodu in Tekulapally Mandal of Bhadradri-Kothagudem district and Bachupally of Medchal-Malkajgiri district. During the operation, officials seized medical stock worth ₹83,000 from these unauthorised practitioners.

The raids also uncovered violations of the Drugs (Prices Control) Order, 2013.

In a parallel investigation, the DCA flagged several medicines for making misleading claims. These include: Triphala Powder (Ayurvedic) that claimed to treat cardiovascular disorders, high blood pressure, and ophthalmic problems; ED Phenicol (chloramphenicol eye ointment, allopathic) for prophylaxis and treatment of eye infections; Tulasi Leaf Churnam (Ayurvedic) for fever; Kapiva BP Care Juice (Ayurvedic) that claimed to manage blood pressure and Madhuriktha Powder (Ayurvedic) that claimed to treat diabetes.