NEW DELHI: Four people, including a Syrian national, have been arrested for allegedly producing and distributing counterfeit cancer and diabetes medications to international markets, according to officials.
According to the police, Monir Ahmad (54), a Syrian national, supplied medicines to Turkey, Egypt, and India. The other three accused were identified as Naveen Arya (40), Saurabh Garg (34), and Karan Khaneja (27). “With their arrests, police have seized multiple international-brand life-saving fake cancer/diabetes medicines worth crores of rupees,” said Rakesh Paweriya, Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime). The officer also stated that the crime branch’s cyber cell discovered evidence of the sale of counterfeit and unregistered life-saving drugs in the Delhi NCR area.
On April 4, a raid was conducted at Shree Ram International Traders in Bhagirath Palace, where a stockpile of various imported drugs and other trade stock worth nearly Rs 1.5 crore was discovered, according to the officer. The stock was seized, and it was revealed that the shop’s owner, Arya, was selling spurious life-saving drugs, the officer added.
“Another raid was carried out on a separate medicine vendor in Daryaganj. During the search, a suspicious stock of various imported drugs and other trade stock worth approximately Rs 2.5 crore was discovered,” the DCP stated. According to police, the seized medicines were not authorized for sale or distribution in India.
“During the investigation, it was discovered that the syndicate is operated in collusion with foreign nationals. Information was received that a Syrian national was coming to Delhi for a deal involving fake medicines,” the DCP said. On May 14, a trap was set at New Delhi Railway Station, and Monir Ahmad was apprehended.
Monir Ahmad told police that he acted as a carrier for fake medicines between Turkey, Egypt, and India, and that he was regularly involved in supplying Turkish and Egyptian medicines to India, as well as Indian medicines to the two countries, according to the DCP.
He revealed his frequent visits to the medical market in Bhagirath Place, where he used to supply imported medicines to Naveen Arya, Saurabh Garg, and Karan Khaneja, the officer claimed.