DCA seizes banned drug Ofloxacin and Ornidazole Suspension at Secunderabad railway station

Hyderabad: Officials from the Drugs Control Administration (DCA), Telangana, have seized the banned drug combination ‘Ofloxacin and Ornidazole Suspension’ in Secunderabad.

During the raid, officials from the Secunderabad Zone of the DCA seized 200 bottles of the banned drug Ofloxacin and Ornidazole Suspension (50 mg/125 mg), with the stock valued at approximately Rs 50,000.

The drug, banned by the Government of India in 2018, was being illegally manufactured and sold by Lok-Beta Pharmaceutical Pvt. Ltd., based in Thane, Maharashtra.

The seizure occurred at the Jan Aushadhi Kendra located within the Secunderabad Railway Station premises.

Case details

Acting on credible information about the sale of banned drugs, officials from the Secunderabad Zone of the DCA raided Jan Aushadhi Kendra. During the raid, they detected and seized stocks of the banned drug Ofloxacin and Ornidazole Suspension (50 mg/125 mg).

The Government of India banned the Ofloxacin and Ornidazole Suspension on September 7, 2018, citing the lack of therapeutic justification and potential health risks to humans. The ban prohibited the manufacture, sale and distribution of the drug combination for human use across the country.

Further investigation is underway and the DCA officials said that action will be taken against all offenders as per the law.

VB Kamalasan Reddy, IPS, director general of the Telangana DCA emphasised the seriousness of the offence, stating, “The manufacturing and sale of prohibited drugs is a grave offence. Surprise checks are being intensified to detect the circulation of banned drugs in the market. Stringent action will be taken as per the law against violators.”

The public is encouraged to report any complaints regarding illegal activities concerning medicines through the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana’s toll-free number 1800-599-6969, operational from 10:30 am to 5 pm on all working days.

The raid was carried out by a team of officers including B Govind Singh, drugs inspector, Secunderabad; G Anil, drugs inspector, Malakpet; P Renuka, drugs inspector, Musheerabad; and M Surendranath, drugs inspector, Begumpet.