The Gujarat Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) has cancelled the licences of two firms and taken action against two others in Vadodara and Surat districts after inspections found alleged illegal storage and sale of medicines, including codeine cough syrup, tramadol and drugs sold through online platforms.
The action followed information provided by the Maharashtra unit of the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB), according to an official statement cited by the FDCA. A joint raid at Chamunda Pharma in Karjan, Vadodara district, resulted in the seizure of 13,938 bottles of Anarex cough syrup containing codeine. The stock was valued at an estimated Rs 27.8 lakh.
Authorities also seized 12,240 tramadol tablets, estimated to be worth Rs 50,000. Codeine and tramadol are regulated substances covered by provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act. The firm was sealed for what the government described as serious violations, and its sale licences under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act were cancelled with effect from October 1.
A related inspection at Majisa Medical Stores in Karjan found stock of Lomotil tablets containing a component covered under the NDPS Act, the official release said. The firm was issued a show-cause notice, and its licence for retail sale of drugs was cancelled with effect from October 5.
The FDCA also raided Dermatics India in Varachha, Surat, on October 1. The investigation found that the firm was selling medicines through its website without a valid licence, according to the statement. Authorities seized medicines including sildenafil, minoxidil and ketoconazole, with the stock valued at more than Rs 11.3 lakh.
The fourth case involved Kyara International in Mota Varachha, Surat. During an inspection on October 3, officials found digital evidence indicating the illegal sale of medicines worth Rs 3.6 lakh through online platforms in one month. The medicines were allegedly marketed under the false name “Sildenafil Ayurvedic”, the government said.
The cases highlight the regulatory challenge created by drug sales that move between physical premises, websites and online platforms. While the Vadodara action involved controlled substances and licence violations at pharmaceutical and retail establishments, the Surat inspections also focused on digital evidence and the sale of medicines without a valid licence.
The FDCA’s action includes sealing, seizure, show-cause proceedings and cancellation of licences, depending on the violations recorded during each inspection. The official statement did not provide details of any arrests, prosecutions or further court proceedings in the four cases.
