New Delhi: India’s battle against counterfeit medicines is slipping dangerously out of control, with Delhi fast emerging as a major marketplace for fake and substandard drugs that threaten public health on a massive scale. From life-saving medicines to everyday cosmetics, spurious products are being sold openly across the Capital and the NCR, exposing deep cracks in enforcement and regulation.
Senior drug control officials admit that what once appeared as isolated incidents has now morphed into a highly organised criminal enterprise. Loni, on the outskirts of Delhi in neighbouring Uttar Pradesh, has become the epicentre of the racket, housing illegal factories that churn out counterfeit medicines and cosmetic products in bulk before distributing them across Delhi-NCR.
“The problem has grown into organised crime,” a senior Drug Controller said. “In Loni alone, several illegal units are operating openly, supplying fake medicines and cosmetics across the region.”
The scale of the network came into sharp focus recently when the Cyber Cell of the Delhi Police Crime Branch busted a major module involved in the manufacture and supply of spurious medicines and fake cosmetic products. According to DCP (Crime Branch) Aditya Gautam, two accused—Shree Ram and Gaurav Bhagat—were arrested, leading investigators to Pramod Kumar Gupta, who was allegedly supplying spurious Betnovate-C ointment and operating an illegal manufacturing unit.
“Based on sustained interrogation and technical surveillance, Pramod Kumar Gupta was traced and apprehended from Hazrat Nizamuddin Railway Station on December 12,” Gautam said.
Subsequent raids led police and drug inspectors to an illegal manufacturing unit operating from a rented farmhouse in Village Bijwasan, Delhi. Large quantities of raw materials, finished counterfeit products, packaging material and manufacturing machinery were seized. Around 600 kg of stearic acid, packaging machines, empty boxes and nearly 800 cartons each of fake Fair & Lovely cream and Veet hair removal cream were recovered from the site.
A representative of Hindustan Unilever Limited, called to the spot during the raid, confirmed that the seized Fair & Lovely and Veet products were entirely fake and not manufactured by the company.
Investigators also revealed that after the arrest of one associate, the accused allegedly burnt nearly 25 cartons containing around 27,000 tubes of spurious Betnovate-C ointment to destroy evidence, before fleeing to another state. He was previously involved in similar offences and had been jailed earlier, police said.
Authorities warn that counterfeit medicines linked to cancer, heart disease, diabetes, kidney ailments and antibiotics are among the most commonly found fakes in the market. Despite repeated raids and seizures, enforcement officials concede that only a fraction of the trade is being intercepted.
In the last three years alone, counterfeit medicines worth over ₹45 crore have been seized in Delhi. Officials admit this figure barely scratches the surface of what is circulating unchecked in the market.
The problem extends beyond Delhi. In Haryana’s Nuh district, particularly in Firozpur Jhirka, Indri, Punhana and Taoru, counterfeit medicines are being sold openly, according to local social worker Imran. “Chemists have been caught selling fake medicines during raids, but what action followed is unclear. They continue business as usual,” he said.
Imran pointed out that low awareness and poverty make residents especially vulnerable. “People cannot distinguish between genuine and fake medicines. Cheaper counterfeit drugs are pushing them into serious health risks. Authorities must be far more vigilant,” he added.
Mukesh Kumar, Director, Shaheed Khan Mewati Government Medical College and Hospital, Nalhar (NUH), said the hospital is currently functioning with over 400 doctors and around 1,100 paramedical staff, catering to nearly 1,200 patients every day for various ailments. “In recent months, we are seeing a higher number of cases related to skin diseases, orthopaedics, gynaecology and paediatrics. At the same time, chest-related illnesses and tuberculosis cases are also rising gradually,” he said.
Kumar added that the government has been extremely supportive in strengthening healthcare services in the region. “In the coming days, we are committed to making this hospital the best healthcare facility in NUH,” he said.
When asked about the alleged sale of counterfeit medicines in the NUH area, Kumar said he could not comment specifically on the issue. However, he pointed out that lack of awareness among patients remains a major concern. “Many people here are not well educated and often end up consuming medicines that are different from what doctors prescribe, without understanding what they are being given. They take these medicines unaware of their actual contents,” he said.
The crisis is compounded by inadequate testing infrastructure. In 2025 alone, drug inspectors collected 1,183 samples from chemist shops in Bhagirath Palace, one of Asia’s largest medicine markets. Nearly 400 samples were found to be completely counterfeit. A shortage of government testing laboratories and trained staff in Delhi continues to delay detection and prosecution.
Health officials say weak laws and a slow judicial process have emboldened the counterfeit drug mafia. “Punishment is lengthy and ineffective. Most accused get bail easily and return to the same business,” a senior health official said.
Senior Drug Controller Anil Kumar Negi said commonly seized counterfeit medicines include Betnovate-C and Clop-G ointments, ENO antacid, anti-diabetes drugs such as Janumet and Jalra, Allegra, antihypertensives like Losar and Cardace, antibiotics such as Levofloxacin, asthma and COPD inhalers, steroid formulations and hormonal supplements.
Drug Inspector Balram Sahu warned that the health risks are severe. “Fake medicines can contain ineffective or toxic substances, leading to treatment failure, adverse reactions, antibiotic resistance, organ damage and even death,” he said.
Recent crackdowns underline the scale of the racket. In December 2025, counterfeit medicines worth ₹2.3 crore were seized from a Ghaziabad unit. In October, over 91,000 sachets of fake ENO antacid worth ₹2 crore were recovered from Ibrahimpur. Earlier this year, police seized spurious cancer medicines worth nearly ₹7 crore from multiple locations in Delhi, where accused were allegedly targeting cancer patients through social media with discounted offers. The CDSCO later confirmed the medicines were unauthorised for sale in India.
Cases have been registered under provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, and the Delhi government claims to have conducted at least 27 raids across the city.
Yet, with fake medicines continuing to flood the market, a troubling question remains: how many more lives will be put at risk before the law catches up with those poisoning India’s medicine supply chain?
(Cover Image, AI Generated)
