Solan: In a major blow to the illegal pharma trade, a joint team from the Himachal Pradesh Drugs Control Administration and the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) has busted a racket supplying fake Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (APIs). Acting on a tip-off, drug officials raided a premises near the Bus Stand in Paonta Sahib, Sirmour district. The site had a valid license for wholesale drug distribution till December 25, 2028. However, the team found two suspicious APIs — Thiocolchicoside and Azithromycin — stored without legal purchase records.
Dr. Manish Kapoor, Drugs Controller of Himachal Pradesh, said these APIs were commonly used. Thiocolchicoside is for muscle pain and inflammation. Azithromycin is a well-known antibiotic. But both were kept illegally, without invoices. The owner and licensed staff couldn’t show valid purchase bills and were taken into custody. During the investigation, officials discovered the fake APIs were being sourced from Uttarakhand. As a result, two more people were arrested in the neighboring state. The inquiry is ongoing, and officials expect more leads to surface soon.
Dr. Kapoor highlighted the government’s firm stand. He said, “These illegal actions risk human lives. The law will deal strictly with the guilty. The Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, provides harsh penalties, and we will ensure strict enforcement.” He also stated that the Licensing Authority and Drug Inspector had been asked to speed up the probe and take swift legal steps.
The Himachal Drugs Control Administration has pledged to ensure safe and quality medicines for the public. It will keep working with CDSCO and other state bodies to clean up the pharmaceutical supply chain and stop such harmful activities.
