The Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) has uncovered a counterfeit medicine racket with fake drugs worth ₹17 lakh during statewide raids. Spurious allopathic medicines carrying the names of top pharma brands like Torrent, Glaxo, and Ipca were seized from multiple locations including Ahmedabad, Vadodara, Surat, and Rajkot. Twenty samples have been sent for lab testing to confirm their contents. FDCA officials suspect the fake drugs were made using chalk powder and sold without bills, sourced from other states in cash.

Key highlights

Brands targeted in fake packaging

• Counterfeit versions of Chymoral Forte (Torrent), Augmentin (Glaxo), Zerodol SP (Ipca), and Swifcef (Bioswift) seized.

• Labels and packaging were made to mimic genuine branded drugs.

Raids conducted across multiple cities

• Locations raided include Vatva, Amraiwadi, Bapunagar in Ahmedabad.

• Additional raids in Vadodara, Surat (Katargam), and Rajkot.

• Seized stock believed to be part of a cross-border racket.

Fake drugs made from unsafe materials

• Initial reports suggest chalk powder was used in the tablets.

• Products were sold at half price, without bills, to maximize profit.

• Investigation underway to trace the supply chain and distributors.

Samples sent for lab testing

• 20 medicine samples have been submitted to FDCA labs.

• Legal action will follow based on test reports and regulatory violations.

The rise in counterfeit drug operations poses a serious risk to public health and trust in India’s pharma ecosystem. As chemists and retailers, staying alert to suspicious products and sourcing only from licensed distributors is more critical than ever. FDCA’s crackdown is a timely reminder of the need for tighter surveillance and vendor vetting.