Major Drug Bust in Telangana: Authorities Seize Bulk Pharmaceuticals Worth Rs. 96 Lakhs

 

Major Drug Bust in Telangana: Authorities Seize Bulk Pharmaceuticals Worth Rs. 96 Lakhs

Hyderabad,July 24, 2024: In a significant crackdown on illegal drug manufacturing, the Drugs Control Administration (DCA) of Telangana, in collaboration with the Prohibition & Excise Department, conducted a successful raid on a godown storing unlawfully produced bulk drugs. The operation took place at Door No. 3-21, First Floor, Potharam Y-Junction, Muduchintalpally Village, Medchal-Malkajgiri District.

The godown, owned by Aspen Biopharma, was found to be storing a vast quantity of Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs), including anticancer, antiviral, antifungal, anticoagulants, and antidepressants, with a total value of Rs. 96 lakhs. Kadari Sateesh Reddy, a notorious figure with a history of offenses with the DCA, was identified as the operator of this facility.

The Raid

On July 23, 2024, acting on credible information, a joint team from the DCA's Shameerpet Zone and the Prohibition & Excise Department raided the location. They discovered large stocks of various APIs:

- **Sertraline Hydrochloride**: 350 kg

- **Misoprostol**: 352.5 kg

- **Darifenacin**: 1.5 kg

- **Heparin Sodium**: 1.3 kg

- **Amisulpride**: 9 kg

- **Pazopanib**: 2.5 kg

- **Palbociclib**: 1.5 kg

- **Nilotinib**: 3.2 kg

- **Losartan**: 2 kg

- **Terazosin**: 6.5 kg

- **Sertaconazole**: 4.5 kg

- **Posaconazole**: 1.4 kg

- **Darunavir**: 0.5 kg

- **Ropinirole**: 0.6 kg

- **Daptomycin**: 0.8 kg

- **Ibrutinib**: 0.6 kg

- **Tenofovir**: 1.5 kg

- **Abiraterone**: 8 kg

- **Docetaxel**: 0.9 kg

- **Gemcitabine**: 0.9 kg

- **Levetiracetam**: 6 kg

- **Ritonavir**: 0.7 kg

- **Rivastigmine Tartrate**: 8.92 kg

 Health Hazards and Legal Implications

The godown was found to be operating without any drug license, with many stocks only labeled with code names and no manufacturer details, indicating unauthorized manufacturing practices. The drugs, not adhering to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP), pose significant risks to public health. GMP regulations ensure that drugs are safe for patient use, and non-compliant manufacturing can lead to contamination and other quality issues.

The DCA and Prohibition & Excise Department officials involved in the raid included  Anjum Abida, Assistant Director, Shameerpet;  B. Praveen, Drugs Inspector, Shameerpet; Dr. B. Lakshmi Narayana, Drugs Inspector, Uppal;  P. Ambedkar, Drugs Inspector, Medipally; Bharat Bhushan, Excise Inspector; and Naveen, Excise Sub-Inspector.

Call to Action

The authorities are conducting further investigations and promise stringent legal action against all offenders involved. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act prescribes severe penalties, including imprisonment for up to five years, for illegal drug manufacturing and stocking without a license.

The public is encouraged to report any suspicious drug manufacturing activities or other illegal practices related to medicines to the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, via their toll-free number 1800-599-6969, operational from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm on working days.

Contact

For more information, please contact:

**V.B. Kamalasan Reddy, IPS**

**Director General, Drugs Control Administration, Telangana**

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This raid highlights the ongoing efforts of the Telangana authorities to safeguard public health and ensure compliance with drug manufacturing regulations.

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