The Gujarat Food & Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) has busted a racket selling illegal psychotropic drugs in Baroda.


Acting on a tip, a team of FDCA officials raided the residence of a Baroda-based Nigam Shah and recovered psychotropic drugs stacked in his residence illegally. During the raid, the FDCA officials found that Shah has been involved in selling four group of psychotropic injections--- Pentazocin, Pentadec, Fortacin and Phenergan--- illicitly to the addicts.


Psychotropic drugs are chemical substances that affect the brain to produce alterations in mood, thinking, perception or behaviour. These drugs may be used recreationally to purposefully alter one's consciousness.


However, due to the misuse of psychotropic drugs in India the government has made it mandatory that it can be obtained only with a prescription made by a medical practitioner from a registered license holder.


H G Koshia, commissioner, Gujarat FDCA informed that Shah used to conduct this illicit sale by obtaining the drugs from the wholesalers under a genuine licence that he held in the name of Shrejee Traders in Baroda.


“The main reason that led to this is because this injections cannot be obtained easily without proper prescription. Shah used to sell nearly 2500 to 3000 injections per month to addicts who were in need of this drug in spite of it being illegal,” pointed out Koshia.


The drugs that were seized from the residence of Shah costs merely Rs.8 to 10 per injection. However, taking advantage of the lack of availability of the drugs in the state Shah used to sell it over at an exorbitant price of Rs.60 to 70 per injection.


Over the years there have been too much trouble due to the abuse of psychotropic drugs and it has become a major public health issue. Koshia added, “We would see to it that the culprit is bought into account and punished severely to ensure that such incidences do not happen again. We constantly see to it that such incidences do not hamper the progress of our society, it is a serious issue and we are glad that we could bring it into a stop since it is the public health that is at stake.”


Gujarat FDCA has filed an FIR against Shah and has already cancelled his licence.