Three arrested in India over interstate counterfeit blood pressure medicine racket

Authorities in India have arrested three individuals for their alleged involvement in a large-scale counterfeit medicine operation. The arrests were made by the Ahmedabad City Crime Branch, which uncovered an interstate network involved in the procurement, distribution, and sale of fake blood pressure medication.

The investigation was triggered by a formal complaint lodged on August 19 by J.B. Chemicals & Pharmaceuticals Ltd. The company alerted the Gujarat Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) about the suspected circulation of counterfeit NICARDIA RETARD 10 tablets, a sustained-release nifedipine medication.

Investigators identified the suspected counterfeit drugs by their batch number, which differed from genuine products. Following the pharmaceutical company's report to Ahmedabad Police Commissioner Anupam Singh Gahlaut, joint teams from the Crime Branch and FDCA launched a probe. Their investigation traced the illicit supply chain from Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, ultimately leading to medical outlets in Gujarat where the fake stock had reached.