The Maharashtra Food and Drugs Administration (FDA) has recently made a massive crackdown on rampant and illegal sale of steroidal drugs misused for body building and seized stock of Rs. 51.27 lakhs based on the Maharashtra FDA intelligence department’s reports.
The trap was laid down by the Maharashtra FDA officers with the help of local police at Mumbai based Bhagwati Hospital. A person was also caught red-handed while supplying steroid and sex booster drugs.
Further investigation revealed that the seized drugs were supplied from a Mumbai based firm Kosher Pharmaceuticals. The premises were raided by the Maharashtra FDA officials and found that huge stock of anabolic steroids injections like testosterone, oxandrolone, stanozolol, estradiol, mesterolone, boldenone, nandrolone and adenosine monophosphate. Sex booster drugs like sildenafil and tadalafil tablets were also seized. The firm does not hold any type of valid license under the Drugs & Cosmetics (D&C) Act, 1940 and rules thereunder.
The firm was indulged in selling these prescription drugs which are supposed to be used only on the advice of a physician for the treatment of chronic illnesses. This is in violation of the D&C norms.
“The representative samples were drawn from the available stock and remaining stock worth Rs. 51.27 lakh was seized for violation of Section 18 C of D&C Act, 1940. Since some other persons may be involved in the illegal sale of these drugs, FIR No. 43/2023 was registered with MHB Colony Police Station , Borivali (W) under relevant sections of Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860 for further investigation,” according to a senior Maharashtra FDA official.
The raid was actively carried out by Drugs Inspector Intelligence Branch – Head Quarters (IB –HQ) VR Ravi and SP Yadav. Drugs Inspectors Greater Mumbai Pashte, Edlawar, Sakhare and Joseph Chiramel were also part of the team.
The raids were conducted as per the instructions of the FDA Minister Sanjayji Rathod for detection of illegal cases in drug sale. Maharashtra FDA Commissioner Abhimanyu Kale, Samadhan Pawar, Joint Commissioner (Vigilance) and Ganesh Rokade, Assistant Commissioner (IB) Food and Drugs Administration Maharashtra State (MS) were part of the apex team monitoring the raids and action taken.
The appeal is being made by the Maharashtra FDA that the public should take any medicine only on the advice of a qualified physician and from valid drugs licensed premise with authentic sale bill.
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