Bengaluru: Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration officials have uncovered an illegal medicine manufacturing and repackaging unit in Bengaluru that was allegedly selling counterfeit drugs under the names of well-known international pharmaceutical companies. Medicines estimated to be worth around ₹5 crore were seized during the raid.
The illegal operation was reportedly functioning from a farmhouse at Kurubarakarenahalli in Bidadi, off Mysuru Road. According to officials, low-cost medicines were being brought in from other states and repackaged in bottles and containers carrying the labels of reputed international pharmaceutical companies.
The medicines were then allegedly marketed as products imported from prominent foreign, including American, pharmaceutical companies.
Many Medicines Found Unfit for Use
Officials said that a large quantity of the seized medicines was not fit for use. Investigators reportedly found that some products had been manufactured using improper raw materials that could potentially pose a risk to public health.
The seized stock also included injectable medicines, raising further concerns over patient safety.
Officials also discovered that the codes printed on several medicine packages were not functional, indicating possible attempts to imitate genuine pharmaceutical products.
Among the seized stock, medicines worth approximately ₹35 lakh had already expired.
Special Investigation Team Proposed
Karnataka Health Minister U.T. Khader disclosed details of the raid during a press conference.
He said that the Home Minister would be requested to constitute a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to conduct a detailed investigation into the counterfeit medicine operation.
The investigation is expected to examine the entire supply chain, including those involved in transporting the medicines, intermediaries connected with the operation, and the possible distribution of the counterfeit products to other states.
Relevant information will also be shared with authorities in other states to determine whether the network had wider operations.
Authorities have not yet disclosed the identity of the individuals allegedly operating the illegal manufacturing and repackaging facility.
The seizure has raised serious concerns about the circulation of counterfeit and substandard medicines and the potential health risks posed to patients who may unknowingly purchase such products.
