A total of 18 people have been arrested in Dhaka for manufacturing and selling counterfeit medicines,
The arrests were made on Thursday during a raid in the capital’s Uttara jointly conducted by the Directorate General of Drug Administration (DGDA) and the Detective Branch (DB).
The suspects include staff members of Uttara outlets of SB Corporation, Lazz Pharma, Al-Madina Pharma, Islamia Pharma, and Tamanna Pharma.
Authorities, during the drive, also seized a huge amount of counterfeit medicines, said DB’s Deputy Commissioner Mashiur Rahman.
The employees of different drug stores who were held from Dhaka’s Uttara for selling adultrated drugs on Thursday | Collected
"We had intel that some of Dhaka’s famous drug stores were counterfeiting drugs which are imported from the US and Canada. They were also charging exorbitant prices for these fake medicines.
“These fake drugs are manufactured in the capital’s Uttara, Fakirapool, Chawkbazar, and Tongi of Gazipur and then are supplied to different known drug shops.”
“These shops have been fined by our magistrate,” he added.
Moshiur also said that DB will continue conducting such drives in the future.
Meanwhile, earlier on the day, RAB and DGDA carried out drives in Dhaka’s Mitford Hospital area for fake medicines, medical devices, and hand sanitizers.
Speaking to Dhaka Tribune, RAB Executive Magistrate Md Aktaruzzaman said: “We have fined three drug stores by Tk5 lakh each. We have also fined an organization by Tk3 lakh for manufacturing fake antiseptics.
“Moreover, two others were jailed for three months each for making fake detergent powder.”
