Date:21/09/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/09/21/stories/2007092150510100.htm

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Inter-State drug racket busted

HYDERABAD: An inter-State racket dealing in spurious drugs was busted by Drugs Control authorities following seizure of Rs. 5.36 crore worth of drugs in the wake of raids across the State.

The huge quantity of drugs seized included those manufactured illegally and marked as “physician’s samples” and “Government supply”. They were all seized following raids across the State over eight months by special teams.

Announcing details of the seizure, the highest in terms of value in Andhra Pradesh at a press conference here on Thursday, Minister for Hospital Services and Drugs Control Administration (DCA) V. Venkateshwar Rao said the drugs manufactured without valid licence alone were worth Rs. 4.8 crore. The value of others was -- spurious (Rs. 3 lakh), drugs suspected to be spurious (Rs. 10 lakh), physician’s samples and other drugs seized from licensed/unlicensed premises (Rs. 43.35 lakh) and drugs meant for Government institutes (Rs. 0.58 lakh).

The Minister said apparently an inter-State network existed as the spurious drugs seized from Jeedimetla were believed to be supplied from New Delhi.

The drugs marked “Government supply” were transported from Karnataka and Tamil Nadu. He said “non-political” pressure was brought on him following the seizure and asserted that the Government would not succumb to such tactics. Criminal cases would be filed against those involved, irrespective of their stature.

Director-General of Drugs Copyrights and DCA, R.P. Meena, said a huge quantity of illegally manufactured drug, ‘Novogra’ containing chemical composition similar to Viagra, was seized from a manufacturer in Balanagar. It was meant for export to African and other developing countries.

He said an amendment bill would be introduced in the Assembly in the next session vesting Drugs Control authorities with powers for arrest and interrogation.