PNS|Hyderabad
In a joint operation that exposed the darker underbelly of pharmaceutical diversion in the city, the Prohibition and Excise Department, along with the Drugs Control Administration (DCA), Telangana, unearthed a racket involving the illegal sale and abuse of Codeine-based cough syrups. The crackdown led to the arrest of three individuals and the cancellation of drug licences for two prominent medical shops in Hyderabad.
The operation, conducted on April 21, stemmed from the arrest of two individuals in Ramanthapur for possession of dry ganja. During interrogation, they revealed details about illegal Codeine syrup distribution. Acting on the tip-off, enforcement officials intercepted a woman, Nalla Rajini, near Moula Ali Bridge with 13 bottles of Codeine phosphate syrup.
She failed to produce either a valid prescription or a drug licence.
Rajini confessed that she procured the syrup from Generic World Medical Shop in Vidyanagar. A decoy operation was quickly launched by DCA and Excise officials at the shop, during which three bottles were sold without a prescription or bill.
A follow-up inspection found 80 more bottles in stock. The sale was in violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, which mandates a prescription from a registered medical practitioner and maintenance of proper sales records.
Further investigation led authorities to Himalaya Pharma in Old Bowenpally, the supplier of the Codeine syrups to Generic World. This pharmacy, too, was found to be flouting the law, storing and selling Codeine-based syrups without prescriptions and proper documentation. Both establishments were run by individuals closely linked-Dinesh Kumar Goyal, the licensee of Himalaya Pharma, is related to the owner of Generic World.
The arrested include Nalla Rajini, Anmol Kumar Singhal (Generic World licensee), and Dinesh Kumar Goyal (Himalaya Pharma licensee). The DCA has cancelled the licences of both pharmacies involved.
A case has been registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Malkajgiri Excise Station. Authorities have assured that further investigation is underway and strict legal action will be taken against all involved.
Officers who led the operation included J. Jeevan Kiran (Assistant Excise Superintendent), D. Saritha (Assistant Director, Secunderabad), and several others from both departments.
