Medicine traders demand CBI probe into smuggling of psychotropic drugs

Suresh Gupta, general secretary of the CDFUP, a body of 1.25 lakh medicine traders in state, in a letter to the drug controller Uttar Pradesh said, “Up to 60% psychotropic substance such as codeine preparation, cough syrup, are being smuggled to other states illegally to earn extra.”

Chemists and Druggists Federation, Uttar Pradesh (CDFUP) has demanded a CBI probe into alleged smuggling of psychotropic drugs and other such habit-forming medicines to other states.

(Pic for representation)

Suresh Gupta, general secretary of the CDFUP, a body of 1.25 lakh medicine traders in state, in a letter to the drug controller Uttar Pradesh said, “Up to 60% psychotropic substance such as codeine preparation, cough syrup, are being smuggled to other states illegally to earn extra and this has support of some officials too.”

The letter was written on August 24, following an order from the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) department where the FSDA issued directives to wholesale and retail medicine traders to limit stock of psychotropic drugs.

“The order can be challenged in the court as Drug and Cosmetic Act does not restrict stock or sale. The order will ultimately give rise to misbranding of drugs and their sale at a higher price to patients. Traders with malafide intention will adopt malpractice to earn more after this order,” said the letter by Gupta.

The office-bearers of the CDFUP alleged that certain medicines are being smuggled as intoxicants.

“The FSDA has a staff and powers to check sale of each drug, then what is the need to issue such an order to restrict stock. The staff can check stock and eventually can also check sale of misbranded drugs,” said Suresh Gupta.