In a series of raids conducted in several places of the city and in various parts of the state during the last 10 days, the state drug authorities have detected several illegal activities of the pharma traders in which expired and label tampered drugs worth lakhs of rupees were seized from shops of stockists and residences of unlicensed persons
Tamil Nadu Drugs Control Administration director M Bhaskaran said that the operation was part of a swoop for violators of Drugs & Cosmetics Act in the state. In the city, raids were conducted in Anna Nagar, Mylapore, Chinmaya Nagar and in Tambaram. He also led an operation in Cuddalore district.
The director and his inspection team, on some information from reliable sources, recently conducted a raid at Selvaganapathy Agencies in Cuddalore district and seized 2700 bottles of 'Benadryl' Cough Syrups from the shop owner's vehicle garage. The total amount worth for the quantity of syrups comes around Rs 2 lakh, he said.
Bhaskaran said the bottles of drug were hidden in two parcel lorries in the garage and on enquiry it was found that the shop owner got the delivery from a person of Nellur in Andhra Pradesh. Investigation has extended to other state also.
Last week, the authorities confiscated huge quantities of Cephalexin Injection meant for government supply from an unlicensed person's house in Egmore. Investigation on this is going on.
On March 15, the inspection team seized huge quantities of date expired Renerve tablets from one Shri GH Pharma at Arumbakkam in Chennai. Director told Pharmabiz that Sri GH Pharma is only a retailer with whole sale licence. The retailer had received huge stocks of Renerve tablets from one K Bhaskar who is not a licensed person but was acting as a broker.
During interrogation, the retailer said he got the drugs from one Sekhar of Ganapathy Agencies, Choolai in Chennai. According to Drugs Control director, Sekhar is a surgical dealer, who got the medicine from one Sanjay Kumar of Egmore. Sanjay Kumar was operating the business from his residence without licence. Huge quantity of drugs worth lakhs of rupees was seized from the residence of Sanjay Kumar.
The director also said Sanjay Kumar has hidden some bottles cough syrups in a bucket full of water and during testing it was found that water had gone inside all the bottles. Separate cases have been booked against the dealer.
One of the raided dealers include Meena Healthcare Pvt Ltd, a leading whole sale dealer in the state capital, and raids were conducted in three sister concerns of it, he said. A total number of 25 shops were raided during these days, according to the director
