PNS | DEHRADUN
The Food Safety and Drug Control Administration (FDA) raided 862 establishments across Uttarakhand, revoked the licenses of two companies and filed criminal cases against five in a year-long crackdown on illegal drug manufacturing and counterfeit medicines.
The FDA commissioner R Rajesh Kumar informed that a major breakthrough came in Dehradun’s Sahaspur area, where a factory operating under the guise of a food license was found manufacturing illegal drugs. A joint operation by the FDA, local police and the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) led to the arrest of three suspects on Thursday, with two others still at large. The factory, named Green Herbal, was reportedly producing narcotic drugs without the required licenses. The raid resulted in the seizure of 1,921 capsules and tablets, 592 syrup bottles and 342 empty wrappers. The confiscated drugs are now being sent for forensic analysis to determine their composition.
The FDA deputy commissioner Tajbar Jaggi said that the Green Herbal factory, licensed for food products since 2023, was manufacturing psychotropic drugs, substances known to cause intoxication when consumed in excess. This illegal activity came to light following a tip-off about narcotics production at the facility. Among those arrested were Sanjay Kumar, a resident of Saharanpur, Shiv Kumar of Selaqui, and Rahman from Chandauli. Two others, Kanhaiya and Rishabh, remain absconding. All are believed to have roles as operators and partners in the factory. Authorities are actively pursuing the fugitives to bring them to justice. The investigation team included drug inspector Manvendra Rana, FDA vigilance officers and personnel from local law enforcement and ANTF. He said that over the past year, the administration has taken significant steps to combat counterfeit drugs.
According to Jaggi, legal samples from 352 products have been collected for testing, with investigations ongoing for 35 products. So far, the licenses of 72 companies have been suspended and two have been permanently revoked. In addition, six facilities have been sealed and sales licenses for 10 companies have been recommended for cancellation. In the Kumaon region alone, 81 licenses were suspended, with nine companies having their permits revoked. He said that FDA is committed to maintaining public health standards and continues to intensify its operations against illegal drug manufacturers. He stated that the campaign will persist and offenders will face strict penalties to deter such activities in the future.
