Spurious drugs seized from Ludhiana

A team of Punjab drug regulatory officers today raided a chemist in Ludhiana and seized "spurious" medicines of more than Rs 2 crore from the shop.
Acting on a tip off, eight member team of Punjab Food & Drugs Administration conducted a raid at one unlicenced wholesale chemist shop at Sant Tower, Pindi Street in Ludhiana.
During checking, the shop owner was found stocking and exhibiting drugs for sale which were suspected to be "spurious", said Hussan Lal, Secretary Health cum Commissioner, Food & Drugs Administration (FDA), Punjab.
The value of drugs was worth more than Rs 2 crore.
From the shop, medicines were found to be manufactured and packed without having a mandatory licence under the provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940. Apart from this, 31 types of articles including machines and packing material were also seized by the team, he said.

Lal further said seized drugs are suspected to be of poor quality since these drugs are being manufactured and packed under the uncontrolled environment.

This activity of manufacturing and packaging of drugs was being done in clandestine manner, he said.
The department suspects that medicines seized from the premises contain 'Anabolic Steroids' that are widely misused by youngsters in sports and gyms for early development of body muscles.
Commissioner FDA further disclosed that both the teams had drawn 16 samples of the drugs for test and analysis for identification and quality checks.
The department would prosecute the offenders in a court of law. There is a provision of minimum three years of rigorous imprisonment with fine of not less than Rs 1 lakh under the law. The fine may be enhanced to three times of the value of drugs seized from the accused persons, he said.