₹4.91 Crore Spurious Drugs Seized From Unlicensed Unit Near Bidadi

The Drug Enforcement Wing of the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration seized medicines and equipment worth ₹4.91 crore from an unlicensed drug repacking unit operating out of a farmhouse at Kurubarakeranahalli near Bidadi, on the outskirts of Bengaluru, on August 18.

Health Minister U.T. Khader announced details of the raid on August 19, stating that the facility was allegedly being used to repack lower-cost and expired medicines and relabel them as expensive branded products, including names of multinational pharmaceutical firms.

The largest component seized was 5,640 vials of CEFIAVIGENT 2.5 Injection, valued at ₹3.38 crore, listing Eucratia Healthcare Private Limited as the manufacturer. Officials also seized 1,531 vials of HIZLAM Injectables carrying the name of Welcure Remedies, valued at ₹52.24 lakh, and 30 boxes of expired medicines worth approximately ₹35 lakh. Investigators are examining whether the expired stock was being reintroduced into the active supply chain.

Other seized stocks included 470 vials of Xavitaz injection valued at ₹27.49 lakh, and 264 vials of EMBLAVEO carrying the name of Pfizer Limited, valued at ₹20.59 lakh. Additional seizures included 165 vials of Zavicefta injection valued at ₹5.45 lakh, 44 vials of TIGYNT IV valued at ₹2.06 lakh, 44 vials of Tigvnet injection valued at ₹2.06 lakh, 190 vials of Aztreo injection valued at ₹1.48 lakh, and 50 vials of Trezam injection valued at ₹1 lakh.

Enforcement officers also confiscated an industrial injection-filling machine and packaging equipment worth ₹5 lakh, two boxes of packaging stoppers and caps, and forged labels, stamps, and printing material estimated at ₹2 lakh. The total value of the seized inventory stood at ₹4,91,49,575.

Inspections revealed that QR codes on several product labels were non-functional. Preliminary findings showed that the premises lacked a valid licence for manufacturing, storage, or distribution. The department has sent samples for laboratory tests to check potency, chemical composition, and sterility, while blocking the seized batch numbers on the Karnataka FDA portal.

A police complaint has been lodged with the Tavarekere police, and regulatory agencies are pursuing the case under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.