Lucknow: As part of a statewide crackdown on drug mafias, Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) seized fake, counterfeit and illegally traded medicines worth around Rs 5.43 crore across Lucknow, Agra, Varanasi and Gonda.Sharing details on Wednesday, an official spokesperson said, “The biggest seizure, worth Rs 3.63 crore, was made in Agra, where raids uncovered a network allegedly involved in counterfeit medicines, fake labelling and forged billing. Nine FIRs were registered and two people arrested. Likewise, in Lucknow, medicines worth Rs 41.58 lakh were seized, and seven cases against 32 people were registered, while two accused were arrested.”Investigators also busted a supply chain allegedly operating through Aminabad. “Four firms — Health Plus, MK Pharma, Ram Pharma and Patient Care Surgical House — were booked for allegedly using forged bills to push counterfeit medicines into the market,” he said.“The investigation found that MK Pharma had shown fake purchases worth around Rs 8.87 crore in 2025-26 and allegedly deleted old data. Manufacturers declared Alkasol syrup and Dexorange syrup sold by two of the firms counterfeit, while the source of around 39.20 lakh Zoryl M1 tablets remained unverified,” the spokesperson added.Following the Lucknow trail, a joint team of FSDA, Crime Branch Ghaziabad and Uttarakhand Drug Department raided an illegal manufacturing unit producing counterfeit medicines, including Clavactum 625 and Razo-D capsules.Machinery, blister-packing and overprinting units, along with fake branded packaging, were seized. Medicines, machinery and packaging material worth Rs 2 crore were recovered.In Varanasi, counterfeit medicines worth Rs 25 lakh were seized from a surgical shop, and its operator was arrested. In Gonda, medicines, injections and syrups worth Rs 1.13 crore, allegedly linked to drug abuse, were seized.In Agra, authorities also detected fake insulin labels, forged bills worth Rs 1.88 crore and the illegal sale of govt-quota medicines. Counterfeit and illegally traded medicines worth Rs 3.63 crore were seized.
