DB now looking for doctors after seizing fake medicines worth crores
Three people arrested with counterfeit medicines in a Dhaka Metropolitan Police Detective Branch operation. Photo: Courtesy of police
Detective Branch (DB) police have arrested three people for allegedly manufacturing counterfeit medicines worth crores of taka in Mohammadpur, Dhaka.
At a press conference at the DMP Media Center on Wednesday, Dhaka Metropolitan Police Additional Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said action would also be taken against doctors who prescribed the names of these medicines.
The arrested individuals are Abdullah Al Mamun (42), Md Saju (33), and Md Sajib (26). Unapproved medicines, packaging materials and various equipment used to manufacture medicines were also seized from them.
At the press conference, it was said that a DB team from the DMP Wari Division arrested them during a raid on Tuesday at a flat on the third floor of a building in Block C of Dhaka Udyan Road.
The seized medicines include Kidz Omega Syrup, Pedia Vox Kids Syrup, Nutramide Syrup, Lactoflex Capsules, Facy Glow Face Wash and Detox Plus Shampoo.
Police officer Shafiqul said several syrups and liquid products for children were among the recovered items. He said the adulterated and unapproved medicines could pose serious risks to children’s lives and health. The matter is being investigated seriously.
He said, “Some medicines were found during the operation that are not commonly available in the country and are initially believed to have been imported from a neighboring country. These medicines were prescribed to patients through certain doctors.”
In response to a question, Shafiqul said no doctor can prescribe medicines that have not been approved by the Drug Administration. He said if the names of doctors involved are found during the investigation, legal action will also be taken against them.
The press conference said medicines worth around Tk 1 crore were seized during the operation. Asked how much medicine the gang had supplied to the market so far, Additional Police Commissioner Shafiqul said the matter is under investigation. Documents found during the operation are being reviewed. He said everyone involved would be brought under the law after the investigation.
Asked how long the gang had been involved in the business, he said, “During the preliminary interrogation, they said they had been running the business for around three to three and a half months. The house used to run the operation was also rented around three months ago.”
A case has been filed against the three arrested individuals with Mohammadpur Police Station under the Special Powers Act over allegations of buying and selling adulterated medicines.
Additional Police Commissioner Shafiqul Islam said the investigation began after the case was filed. He said investigators are looking into whom the gang sold the medicines to, where they supplied them and whether any of the medicines are available at dispensaries or sales outlets.
Detective Branch police said some of the seized medicines are foreign products. They are also investigating whether the medicines were legally imported into the country.
