The cases of import of drugs from unregistered sources in China by the Indian importers without any drug registration and drug import license continue to pour in as the central and the state drug authorities have seized drugs worth around Rs.80 lakh from two traders at Vile Parle in Mumbai.

According to sources, on the basis of a tip off the central drugs standard organisation (CDSCO) west zone, Mumbai and food and drugs administration (FDA) Maharashtra jointly carried out raids on Sarvodaya Enterprises and Sidhambika Pharma Pvt Ltd at Vile Parle in Mumbai for importing drugs illegally from unregistered sources in China that too without drug registration and drug import licence under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and the Rules thereunder.

Both the firms have their offices at two places viz, Princess Street, Vile Parle and Godown at Bhiwandi and simultaneous raids were conducted at all the places on October 25 by the inspectors from CDSCO West Zone, Mumbai and FDA Maharashtra.

One Devang Parekh is understood to be one of the partners of both the above firms. The Office at Princess Street was already occupied by some other party and not by the above firms.

The drug authorities have seized 1450 kgs of Sulphadoxine BP/USP, 406 kgs of Streptomycin Sulfate Sterile Bulk EP, 775 kgs of Nitrofurantoin BP 2005 and 500 kgs of Rutin NF-11. The approximate cost of the drugs seized is Rs.80.00 lakh.

On the basis of the investigations, it is revealed that all the consignments are imported from unregistered sources in China and the importers are not holding any drug registration/drug import licence. As the materials are from unregistered sources, their quality, purity and efficacy is not known.

All the consignments were released from the Customs, Air Cargo Complex, Sahar, Mumbai, without referring them to the Office of the Assistant Drugs Controller (India), Air Cargo Complex, Sahar, Mumbai.

It was observed that all the above consignments were released by the Customs with the connivance of Custom Examiners without insisting on producing the drug import licence/drug registration. Since April, the above firms cleared about 60 consignments of bulk drugs having value of several crores of rupees imported from unregistered sources in China from the Customs without insisting on drug import licence/drug registration.

The drug authorities have collected several incriminating documents viz, sales invoices of the above bulk drugs to various drug manufacturers etc.

Investigations will be carried out at manufacturers’ level who have purchased the bulk drugs from the above importers, as Schedule M, Part I (10.3) clearly states that the manufacturers should procure the drugs from approved sources only.

Further investigations in the matter are under progress. The SIIB of Customs at Air Cargo Complex is also investigating the matter separately and it is understood that some of the Partners of the above firm’s are already under Customs custody.