Unveiling the Fake Pharma Network: Kingpin Arrested in Nationwide Crackdown

Authorities have dismantled a major counterfeit drug racket spanning multiple states, arresting six individuals, including the kingpin, Rajesh Mishra. The syndicate used social media and encrypted platforms for communication and financial transactions, distributing fake life-saving medicines mimicking reputed brands. Two clandestine factories were also uncovered during the crackdown.

In a significant breakthrough, officials have dismantled a widespread counterfeit drug syndicate, arresting six individuals, including the kingpin Rajesh Mishra, operating across India. This network was instrumental in the illegal manufacture, packaging, and distribution of fake life-saving drugs under the guise of reputable pharmaceutical companies like Johnson & Johnson and GSK, police revealed.

The syndicate leveraged social media and encrypted apps to communicate with suppliers and consumers, avoiding detection through financial transactions routed via hawala and fictitious accounts. The operation extended across multiple states, involving clandestine factories in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh, and a complex distribution network supplying counterfeit drugs to various medical establishments and individuals.

This extensive crackdown follows a tip-off about fake medicines arriving in Delhi, leading to the interception of suspects and seizure of a large cache of counterfeit pharmaceuticals. The genuine-looking packages posed significant public health risks, and investigations are ongoing to trace raw material sources and other associates within this elaborate network.

(With inputs from agencies.)