Fake Medicine Racket Exposed in Kolkata

Baby Chakraborty, KalimNews, March 27, 2025, Kolkata :  The illegal trade of counterfeit medicines has resurfaced, posing a serious threat to public health. A major breakthrough was achieved when a fake medicine dealer was apprehended in Kolkata. Authorities seized suspicious medicines from the wholesale pharmaceutical market, which have been sent for testing.

Officials from the Drug Control Department have issued a stern warning to medicine retailers and wholesalers, educating them on how to differentiate between authentic and counterfeit drugs. They have emphasized that any negligence on their part will result in strict legal action. Preliminary assessments indicate that a significant portion of the seized stock consists of counterfeit medicines.

The alarming aspect of this discovery is that the fake medicines were cleverly mixed with genuine ones, making it difficult for consumers to detect the fraud. To avoid suspicion, counterfeit medicines were placed inside original packaging. In some cases, out of a ten-page medicine strip, 7-8 pages contained genuine tablets, while 2-3 pages were found to be fake. The affected medicines include those for diabetes, blood pressure, heart conditions, asthma, and antibiotics.

For now, the seized medicines have been isolated and will undergo laboratory testing. Authorities have expressed concern over the rising trend of counterfeit medicine distribution across the country, endangering unsuspecting consumers. Investigators have urged the public to always demand a cash memo when purchasing medicines, ensuring that batch numbers are clearly mentioned. Retailers have been instructed to procure medicines only from authorized dealers and stockists. Stringent inspections will be conducted at all levels to identify and eliminate fake medicine networks, ensuring public safety.