Illegal drug sale racket busted
The Delhi Government's Drugs Control Department has uncovered an illegal medicine sale operation in Shahdara, seizing over 100 types of drugs and recovering expired medicines during a raid, officials said on Tuesday.
The operation took place on premises in Rashid Market in Khureji village, where medicines were allegedly being sold without a valid licence. Authorities said the raid exposed serious violations of drug safety rules and raised concerns about public health risks.
Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh said the government will take strict action against those involved in illegal drug sales.
“Ensuring safe and regulated sale of medicines is our priority. Any violation will be dealt with firmly. We also urge citizens to stay alert and report such activities,” he said.
Officials said the raid was conducted after receiving specific information about unauthorised drug sales. A team of drug inspectors first sent a decoy customer to verify the complaint.
The person was able to purchase medicines without a prescription and without receiving a bill, confirming illegal practices at the shop.
During the inspection, one individual, identified as Harbhagwan, also known as Bharat, was found operating the premises.
He admitted to selling medicines without proper authorisation, officials said. Further checks revealed that the shop had earlier been licensed, but the licence was cancelled in September 2024 by the authorities. Despite this, the premises continued to store and sell medicines, violating provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
Officials seized 104 varieties of medicines meant for sale and distribution. In addition, 23 expired drug items were found at the site. Samples of selected medicines have been collected for laboratory testing to check their quality and safety. The marked currency used in the decoy operation was also recovered from the accused, strengthening evidence against him.
