Industry leaders have warned the health and customs authorities of the country about a spurt in inflow of fake drugs into Mumbai ports from Chinese sources in the near future. Import of fake and poor quality drugs from China has been on decline in the recent past following stringent vigil by the authorities.

China is adopting a double-pronged strategy of directly supplying fake drugs with `made in India’ labels in the international market and supplying fake drugs to unscrupulous industry players in Mumbai, both by sea and air routes. Some traders in India are hand in glove with these Chinese lobby as import of drugs from licensed manufactures would give them only 7 to 8 per cent of margin while those coming from illicit manufacturers would ensure 15 to 20 per cent profit, industry sources said.

The sudden shifting of ADC at Bombay Airport D K Chauhan to Bangalore recently has also raised concern among some in the industry as he was viewed to be tough against such activities forcing the traders to shift operations to Chennai. This powerful traders’ lobby in the region was reportedly looking to ease him out of Mumbai, it is learnt.

“After seizure of a few consignments in Mumbai and sterner vigil by the authorities, such imports had moved largely to Chennai port where at least three consignments were seized in last May. The authorities cannot relax now. The change of guard should not let increase import of mislabelled and misdocumented Chinese drugs,” an industry leader said, without wanting to be quoted.

The first consignment of 500 kg of roxithromycin seized in Chennai was in the name Envee Drugs Pvt Ltd in Kheda district of Gujarat. Around 2000 kg of cimetidine, another consignment seized, was in the name of Mumbai based Sheetal Pharma while the third consignment of 400 kg of progesterone was also in the name of another Mumbai-based trader J B Khokhani.

There was also a report that a few of the consignments seized earlier in Mumbai were allowed to be re-exported by the Customs, allegedly on the behest of the traders lobby in the region. However, health ministry officials clarified that the bulk drugs seized in Chennai and originated from unregistered sources were under the custody of authorities still and the ministry had recommended a CBI probe.