In a major crackdown on the illegal drug trade, the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) and the Drug Control Department exposed large-scale illicit sales of psychotropic drugs manufactured in Baddi, Himachal Pradesh. A local pharmaceutical unit, MediCross Laboratories Pvt Ltd, legally produced over 3 crore pills in the last eight months, but discrepancies emerged in tracking where these drugs were distributed and sold, raising serious concerns over their illegal diversion for misuse.
Details of the Case
MediCross Laboratories, which produced medicines like Medidol-SR, Trohma-100, and Proximo-Spas, was found to be selling controlled drugs, including Tramadol, without proper invoices and records. During an inspection conducted on September 28-29, officials uncovered that the company supplied psychotropic drugs to wholesalers in multiple states without maintaining required documentation. Notably, Medidol-SR tablets were shipped to a pharmaceutical distributor in Una, Himachal Pradesh, where a raid revealed an unauthorized stock of controlled substances.
The investigation has linked the illegal distribution chain to states like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Maharashtra. The ANTF is actively pursuing leads to identify kingpins involved in this widespread network. Apart from regulatory violations, the pharmaceutical unit has also been accused of tax evasion by severely underreporting product prices; for instance, boxes of drugs costing INR 4,200 were falsely priced at INR 225, potentially costing the state government crores in tax revenue.
Legal Action and Ongoing Investigation
Following the discovery, a formal case has been registered under the CID in Shimla. The authorities are continuing the investigation to uncover all parties involved in this network of unregulated drug sales.