Gandhinagar, October 8 (Daily Kiran) : The Gujarat Food and Drug Control Administration (FDCA) has permanently revoked the drug sale licenses of four companies in Vadodara and Surat. This decision comes after investigations revealed that these firms were illegally stockpiling and selling medications, including codeine-based cough syrup, tramadol, and sildenafil.
This action was initiated under the directives of Health Minister Prabhul Pansheriya and supervised by the FDCA Commissioner. It is part of an ongoing campaign against the misuse of drugs and illegal trafficking within the state.
In a joint operation in Karjan, Vadodara district, FDCA officials acted on specific intelligence received from the Maharashtra Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and raided Chamunda Pharma. During the raid, authorities seized 13,938 bottles of Enrex (codeine) cough syrup, valued at approximately ₹27.8 lakh, along with 12,240 tramadol tablets worth about ₹50,000.
Following regulatory violations, the firm was sealed, and its licenses under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act were permanently revoked as of October 1, 2026.
Officials also inspected Majisa Medical Stores in Karjan, which is linked to Chamunda Pharma. During this inspection, they discovered a stock of Lomotil tablets containing NDPS components. Additionally, the absence of a registered pharmacist and a malfunctioning refrigerator meant to maintain necessary temperatures were noted. Consequently, a show-cause notice was issued, leading to the permanent revocation of the firm’s retail license as of October 5, 2026.
In Surat, action was taken against online drug sales as well. On October 1, officials raided ‘Dermatics India’ in Varachha and found the company selling drugs via its website without a valid drug license. Seized stock included sildenafil, minoxidil, and ketoconazole, valued at over ₹11.26 lakh. Samples have been sent to the government FDL lab in Vadodara for testing, and further legal action will follow based on the lab report.
On October 3, an inspection of ‘Kyara International’ in Mota Varachha revealed digital evidence indicating that the company sold allopathic drugs worth approximately ₹3.60 lakh through online platforms like Meesho in the previous month. These drugs were marketed under the name ‘Sildenafil Ayurvedic.’ Authorities noted that action had already been initiated against this individual for previously holding drugs without a license.
This new case is being treated as a repeat offense, with legal action being pursued under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act of 1940. Minister Pansheriya emphasized that selling allopathic drugs like sildenafil under the guise of ‘ayurvedic’ or without a doctor’s prescription is a serious crime. He announced that a joint team from the cyber cell and FDCA would continuously monitor e-commerce websites to detect such illegal sales.
The minister also urged officials to devise micro-level strategies to combat the misuse of codeine-based cough syrup and other drugs among youth. He reiterated the government’s commitment to stringent investigations and legal actions against illegal drug sales through both online platforms and physical stores.
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