Two Indians charged in US over alleged sale of fake Ozempic

Two Indian nationals have been charged in a US federal court in Florida with conspiracy and smuggling offences over an alleged international scheme to distribute counterfeit prescription drugs.

A federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida has alleged that Swapandip Roy, Vicky Ramancha and their co-conspirators supplied counterfeit Ozempic to distributors in the United States at heavily discounted prices.

Roy, who was extradited from Italy to the US, appeared before a court in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday. If convicted, Roy and Ramancha could each face up to 71 years in prison.

According to court documents, Roy and Ramancha allegedly sourced counterfeit Ozempic from unauthorised suppliers in China from at least July 2023 and continuing to April 2024. 

The counterfeit products allegedly sold by the duo and their co-conspirators were packaged with fake packaging, package inserts, pen labels and needles designed to make buyers believe they were purchasing genuine Ozempic authorised by its manufacturer.

The alleged operation continued even after the US Food and Drug Administration seized some of the counterfeit products in December 2023 and issued a public warning about them.

Roy and Ramancha face one count of conspiracy to commit smuggling and defraud the United States, three counts of smuggling, and two counts related to selling counterfeit drugs and possessing counterfeit drugs for sale.

The US Department of Justice said the two men could each receive a maximum sentence of 71 years if convicted.

Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the Justice Department's Criminal Division said counterfeit prescription medicines, particularly widely used drugs, pose a threat to the health and safety of people who rely on the pharmaceutical supply chain. 

“These defendants allegedly exploited people’s health to pay themselves. We will keep pursuing anyone who seeks to deceive American consumers with counterfeit drugs,” he said. “This indictment reflects our unwavering commitment to protecting Americans from potential harm from counterfeit prescription drugs,” said Assistant US Attorney Christopher Murray for the Middle District of Florida.

“Our office will not tolerate bad actors corrupting our pharmaceutical supply chain,” Murray said. 

“While the US wholesale distribution market is highly regulated, those who choose to subvert the safeguards of the legitimate drug regulatory regime and supply chain by introducing counterfeit drugs into the US market put American consumers at significant risk,” said Assistant Commissioner Justin Green of the US Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations (FDA OCI).

“Drug safety and quality do not begin or end at the US border. FDA takes reports of possible counterfeit medicines seriously and works closely with other federal agencies, foreign counterparts, and the private sector to help protect the nation's drug supply,” Green said. 

The Justice Department’s Office of International Affairs secured Roy’s continued detention, following his arrest pursuant to an INTERPOL Red Notice, and then timely filed a request for his extradition from Italy.  (with inputs from PTI)