The Drugs & Food Control Organisation, J&K, under the Nasha Mukt J&K Abhiyan, conducted special enforcement drives across the districts of Doda, Kishtwar and Udhampur.
The drives aimed to identify establishments operating in violation of legal and regulatory requirements and to prevent the unauthorised sale and misuse of psychotropic substances and prescription medicines.
Surprise inspections of pharmacies and drug sale establishments were carried out by Drugs Control Officers, Munish Gupta at Doda and Imtiyaz Ahmed at Kishtwar, with support from respective district administrations, to ensure compliance with the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
The operations of 14 retail drug sale establishments were disallowed on the spot under Section 22(d) of the Act, four in Kishtwar and ten in Doda, for violations including non-maintenance of mandatory sale records, impersonation and other regulatory irregularities. Stocks of habit-forming formulations containing Tapentadol and Pregabalin, valued at approximately ?2 lakh, were confiscated under Section 23 of the Act.
Preliminary investigations revealed that certain individuals are clandestinely procuring such drugs through online channels and that some establishments have been sourcing habit-forming formulations containing Pregabalin-300 mg and Tapentadol directly from suppliers outside the Union Territory in violation of departmental guidelines.
In Udhampur, action was initiated after Police Station Udhampur recovered 100 capsules of Pregabalin IP 300 mg (Roadwell) from an individual during investigation. Subsequent enquiry led to further recoveries and revealed an alleged supply chain originating from Nath Medicos, Battal Ballian Road, Sailan Talab, Udhampur.
A joint inspection of the premises found stocks of Pregabalin-based formulations, including Gabarutin-300 Capsules. The proprietor failed to produce requisite sale and purchase records. The recovered stocks were formally seized under the Act and the operations of Nath Medicos have been disallowed with immediate effect pending further investigation.
In Kishtwar, acting on information from Senior Superintendent of Police Kishtwar, the Department conducted a detailed investigation into the recovery of Schedule H1 drugs from Adnana Ali S/o Amjad Ali Mir, resident of Malipeth Kishtwar and Mohsin Sarwar S/o Sajjad Hussain Mir, resident of Link Road Kishtwar. Schedule H1 drugs valued at approximately ?1,17,700 were seized and legal proceedings initiated.
Notices have been issued to the individuals concerned seeking details of procurement, purchase, sale and distribution of the recovered formulations and to the pharmaceutical companies and marketing firms associated with the seized products to ascertain the complete supply chain.
Investigations across the three districts have resulted in the following regulatory actions: cancellation of the retail drug sale licence of M/s Iyana Pharmacy, Bhaderwah, Doda; disallowing the operations of M/s Hidayat Medicate, Kishtwar, pending investigation into procurement of habit-forming drugs through suppliers outside the Union Territory via online channels; and investigation into the suspected use of forged or fake licences in connection with drug procurement by a Srinagar-based entity.
Additionally, supply chain inquiries arising from the Kishtwar investigation led to the suspension of operations of M/s Tawi Enterprises, Bhatindi, Jammu along with seizure of drug stocks and issuance of a Show Cause Notice.
State Drugs Controller J&K Rajesh Kumar reiterated that no person or firm shall procure lesser-known brands of drug formulations containing habit-forming ingredients from suppliers outside the Union Territory through online platforms, courier services or speed post and that all drug sale establishments are duty-bound to maintain complete transparency in the procurement and sale of prescription medicines with abuse potential. He warned that any violation shall invite strict action under the Union Territory's zero-tolerance policy, including cancellation of licences and prosecution wherever warranted.
Commissioner FDA J&K Khalid Jahangir stated that these actions reflect the Department's commitment to safeguarding public health and curbing drug misuse and that enforcement drives and intelligence-based inspections shall continue across the Union Territory to identify and act against individuals and establishments involved in illegal drug distribution networks.
The public is requested to report instances of unethical practices involving the sale, diversion or misuse of prescription drugs to the department at [email protected].