Nashik: Kotwali police have arrested four people for allegedly procuring prescription-only cardiac stimulant injections through social media networks and selling them illegally to gym-goers as performance-enhancing drugs.
The racket came to light after a police patrol team led by sub-inspector Ganesh Deshmukh conducted a raid near Gandhi Maidan on Sept 3.
Three suspects were arrested initially and 40 vials of mephentermine sulphate injection were seized. Police later arrested a fourth accused on Friday in connection with the case.
Police said the accused had no licence to sell medicines and were illegally sourcing the drug through social media platforms before supplying the same without prescriptions or bills to young fitness enthusiasts.
According to investigators, the injections were being marketed among gym-goers to improve workout endurance and produce intoxicating effects.
Inspector Nitin Deshmukh said another accused was arrested as the probe expanded.
Police officers said mephentermine sulphate is a Schedule H drug that can be sold only on a valid medical prescription. The cardiac stimulant is primarily used in hospitals to treat severe low blood pressure, but misuse can pose serious health risks.
The four accused have been booked under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
“The suspects possessed no drug sales licences and had purchased the drug through a social media platform. They were peddling the injections without bills or medical prescriptions to local gym-goers,” police officials said.
Inspector Deshmukh said the investigation was now focused on identifying the source of supply and uncovering any wider network operating in the city. “We are investigating the case and have stepped up intelligence gathering to find out if there are other people involved in a similar business of procuring online drugs and selling them to gym-goers,” he said.
