South Gujarat Under Watch as Illegal Medicine Trade Exposed

GANDHINAGAR: South Gujarat has emerged as a major hotspot for the alleged illegal manufacture, storage and sale of medicines, with a fresh Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) crackdown exposing violations at multiple establishments in Surat and Karjan. Authorities seized medicines worth more than ₹42.6 lakh and permanently cancelled the sales licences of two firms.

The latest action, carried out under the directions of Health Minister Prafull Pansheriya, targeted the illegal sale of prescription and potentially addictive medicines through both physical outlets and online platforms.

The crackdown was triggered after the FDCA received specific information from the Maharashtra Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) regarding M/s Chamunda Pharma in Karjan, Vadodara district.

During a joint raid, officials seized 13,938 bottles of ANREX (Codeine) cough syrup, valued at around ₹27.8 lakh, and 12,240 Tramadol tablets worth nearly ₹50,000. The firm was sealed and its 20-B and 21-B drug sales licences were permanently cancelled from October 1.

An inspection of linked Majisa Medical Stores also uncovered serious violations. Officials found Lomotil tablets containing an NDPS-scheduled substance, while the establishment allegedly did not have a registered pharmacist. A refrigerator required for medicine storage was also found switched off. Its retail drug licences were permanently cancelled from October 5.

Surat Online Medicine Sales Under Scanner

The crackdown has also exposed the growing challenge of medicines being sold illegally through websites and e-commerce platforms.

On October 1, the FDCA raided M/s Dermatix India in Varachha, Surat, after instructions to act against online sales of prescription medicines such as Sildenafil Citrate without valid prescriptions or licences.

Officials seized medicines worth more than ₹11.26 lakh, including Sildenafil, Minoxidil and Ketoconazole. Samples have been sent to the government laboratory in Vadodara for analysis.

In another investigation at M/s Kiara International in Mota Varachha, officials allegedly found allopathic medicines being marketed online as “Sildenafil Ayurvedic”. Digital evidence reportedly showed sales through platforms such as Meesho, with medicines worth around ₹3.60 lakh allegedly sold during the previous month.

Pansheriya said the government would not allow online platforms to become a backdoor for illegal medicine sales.

“Whether online or a physical store—the illegal medicine trade will not be spared under any circumstances,” he said.

He added that selling prescription allopathic medicines as Ayurvedic products was a serious violation and announced continuous digital surveillance through a joint Cyber Cell-FDCA mechanism.

Pansheriya also called for “micro-planning” for de-addiction, awareness campaigns and coordinated action by the FDCA, Gujarat Police and NCB, particularly to prevent misuse of codeine-based cough syrups and other medicines among youth.

“The government is committed to protecting the state’s youth from drug addiction. Strict legal action will be taken against anyone jeopardising citizens’ health,” he said.