Kanpur– In a major operation against the illegal trade of intoxicant medicines, a team led by Food Safety and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Roshan Jacob raided multiple pharmaceutical firms in Kanpur on Tuesday, seizing codeine-based cough syrups, Tramadol tablets, and expired drugs valued at approximately ₹7.5 crore. The raids, targeting warehouses in areas like Birhana Road and Koparganj, exposed significant irregularities in storage and distribution, leading to the sealing of several premises and directives for legal action.
The targeted firms included Agarwal Brothers (owned by Vinod Agarwal), Medisina Healthcare and Vedansh Pharmaceutical (linked to Shivam Agarwal and Anmol Gupta), and Mosaico Agencies (owned by Abhishek Sharma and Manju Sharma). Inspectors discovered large quantities of controlled substances without proper documentation, along with attempts to tamper with evidence, such as the removal of computers and records. The syrups were reportedly sourced from a Himachal Pradesh-based laboratory, and the owners failed to provide accounting details during the inspection.
Dr. Jacob, who spearheaded the coordinated effort involving officials from various districts, highlighted the raid’s focus on curbing the misuse of pharmaceuticals as narcotics. “These operations are crucial to breaking the chains of addiction that exploit vulnerable populations,” he said. Samples from the seized items have been dispatched for lab testing, and all raided warehouses remain sealed pending further inventory.
In a significant development following the raid, Assistant Commissioner (Medicine) Dinesh Kumar Tiwari and Drug Inspector Rekha Sachan have been removed from their positions for failing to control the illegal sale of codeine-based cough syrups and other narcotics. The officials have been instructed to report to headquarters by November 17. This action underscores accountability measures amid revelations of ongoing irregularities in the region’s drug trade.
First Information Reports (FIRs) are being filed against the implicated firms under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). Additionally, previous FIRs against other entities, including AS Healthcare, Balaji Medicals, Maa Durga Medicoz, and RS Healthcare, will be amended to include NDPS sections due to similar violations.
A prior inspection on June 28 had already flagged issues, with samples collected and sales restrictions imposed on certain drugs. Authorities suspect these networks contribute to broader interstate and cross-border smuggling, fueling substance abuse among the youth.
Community leaders and health advocates have praised the crackdown, urging continued enforcement to foster a safer, drug-free environment in Uttar Pradesh. Investigations are ongoing to uncover potential links to larger syndicates.
