Agra, June 20: In a significant crackdown under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s zero-tolerance policy, the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has conducted its largest operation against counterfeit medicines, illegal sales of physician samples, and the black market for expired drugs in Uttar Pradesh.
Led by FSDA Commissioner Dr. Roshan Jacob, the operation in Agra resulted in the seizure of counterfeit, expired, and government-supplied medicines valued at over ₹3.63 crores. Authorities have sealed eight illegal warehouses and filed six FIRs, initiating legal action against several suspects. A special team of 25 drug inspectors from the FSDA headquarters in Lucknow conducted extensive enforcement operations between May 22-24 and June 12-14, 2026.
During the operation, key drug trading hubs, warehouses, and residential complexes in areas such as Khatri Gali, Fountain, Sanjay Place, Kamla Nagar, Jhulelal Market, and Dayalbagh were inspected. Over 20 drug firms, 12 warehouses, and multiple suspicious premises were searched, uncovering a large quantity of physician samples, medicines from government hospitals, defense supplies, expired drugs, and suspected counterfeit medications. Dr. Roshan Jacob personally led the second phase of the operation.
He emphasized that ensuring safe and quality medicines for the public is the government’s top priority. The special campaign, which lasted six days over two weeks, has successfully seized counterfeit, expired, and government-supplied medicines worth ₹3.63 crores in Agra. Six FIRs have been filed, and eight illegal warehouses have been sealed.
Dr. Jacob stated that the campaign against drug mafias, counterfeit drug networks, and those jeopardizing public health will continue. He noted that the counterfeit drug network extends beyond Uttar Pradesh, linking to several other states from where fake and suspicious medicines enter the region. Uttar Pradesh is the largest pharmaceutical market in the country, with a robust wholesale and retail drug distribution network, excellent expressway connectivity, proximity to Delhi, and a vast consumer base, making it an attractive hub for illegal traders. Agra has emerged as a key transit and distribution center for drug shipments reaching major markets in the state, including Lucknow and Kanpur. This is why the FSDA has been focusing on Agra, gathering intelligence, and executing this comprehensive operation.
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