Agra: – In a coordinated “surgical strike” against an alleged fake medicines syndicate, teams from Uttar Pradesh’s Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) conducted extensive raids across Agra’s bustling drug markets, seizing thousands of counterfeit labels, prohibited narcotics, and smuggled physician samples. The operation, launched on February 22, 2026, has sent shockwaves through the local pharmaceutical trade, exposing potential tax evasion, illegal smuggling, and violations of drug licensing norms.
The raids targeted key areas in Agra’s Fawwara (Fountain) market, including Maheshwari Complex, Kamla Market corridor, Hing Ki Mandi (Hing Gali), Khinni Gali, and establishments like Bhagwati Drug Center, Tanu Medical Agency, Vishwanath Pharma, and the residence of an individual named Zubair. Acting on intelligence from Lucknow headquarters, the teams descended around 5 PM on Sunday, continuing operations late into the night and extending checks into Monday.
Massive Seizures Highlight Syndicate Operations
The haul included approximately 8,000 fake labels designed for branding counterfeit drugs, such as Foracourt Inhaler, which authorities believe were used to repackage spurious medicines for illicit sale. In Maheshwari Complex’s third-floor gallery, six cartons of abandoned medicines were recovered, containing antibiotics, stomach pain relief drugs, liver medications, and a significant quantity of non-sample Spasmo-Proxyvon Plus tablets—a prohibited opioid-based narcotic valued at ₹3.20 lakh. Additional recoveries of Tramadol capsules (another form of Spasmo-Proxyvon) were found in the Kamla Market corridor, also abandoned without documentation.
Physician samples—medicines labeled “Not for Sale” and intended solely for distribution to doctors—were seized from Tanu Medical Agency, highlighting the illegal smuggling of these items into retail markets. At Vishwanath Pharma, inspectors discovered ₹7.40 lakh in cash, far exceeding typical daily sales, raising suspicions of unreported transactions or black-market dealings. Restricted and prohibited drugs without proper records were also confiscated from various sites, including one carton of “Spasmo” narcotics in Fubbara Market.
Two godowns—Bhagwati Drug Center and Tanu Medical Agency—were sealed due to the absence of operators and discrepancies in stock ledgers. Another shop belonging to a businessman named Pradeep was sealed after he reportedly fled the scene. Samples of suspicious drugs were collected and sent to laboratories for testing, while stock registers, purchase bills, and sales records are being scrutinized for mismatches.
Teams and Coordination
The operation involved 15 specialized teams, led by Assistant Drugs Commissioner Atul Upadhyay from Agra, with support from DK Tiwari (Lucknow headquarters) and drug inspectors from multiple districts: Vaibhav Babbar (Lucknow), Ashutosh Mishra (Ghaziabad), Ompal Singh (Kanpur), Gaurav Lodhi (Meerut), Navneet Kumar (Agra), Deepak Kumar (Mainpuri), Anamika Jain (Bareilly), Nilesh Sharma (Etawah), and Rajat Pandey (Jaunpur). This multi-district collaboration, directed from FSDA headquarters in Lucknow, aimed to dismantle the supply chain of fake and prohibited drugs while probing potential tax evasion.
No arrests were made during the raids, but investigations are intensifying.CCTV footage from nearby stores is being reviewed to identify individuals who abandoned the cartons, and notices are set to be issued to shop owners for questioning. Unsatisfactory responses could lead to further sealing of premises. Officials are also examining documents at Vishwanath Pharma and pursuing leads on individuals like Montu and Zubair.
Official Statements and Broader Implications
Assistant Commissioner Atul Upadhyay emphasized the illegality of selling physician samples, stating, “These drugs are meant for doctors and cannot be sold in shops.” FSDA officials warned of strict legal action, including license cancellations, for violations of licensing conditions. The raids have created a stir in Agra’s drug market, with potential revelations about major drug mafias as the probe deepens.
This operation underscores ongoing efforts to combat counterfeit pharmaceuticals in Uttar Pradesh, a hotspot for such syndicates. Authorities urge the public to report suspicious drug sales and purchase medicines only from licensed outlets. As the investigation unfolds, more details on the syndicate’s reach and additional seizures are expected.
Source : DrugsControl Media Services
