DB busts counterfeit medicine syndicate, arrests 5 in Dhaka

The Detective Branch (DB) of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP) on Monday arrested five people, including a woman, in connection with manufacturing counterfeit drugs under a US-China brand.

The arrestees are Lubna Akhter, Anwar Kazi, Ram Chandra Basak, SM Tajmul Tariq, and Kanak Kumar Shaha.

Acting on secret tips, the DB of Gulshan zone ran a series of raids at the capital's Hatirpul, Rampura and Malibagh area on Tuesday, said a media release.

During the raids, huge numbers of various unlicensed tablets and capsules made in unauthorized factories in Narayanganj’s Jalakuri area were recovered from the arrestees. 

During the preliminary interrogation, the arrestees confessed collecting plastic bottles, caps, and silicone from the Chawkbazar-Midford area and printing colourful English stickers and labels from local press services, before they could send the drugs to market.

The preliminary inquiries also revealed that some doctors were prescribing those counterfeit and adulterated drugs to patients.

A syndicate of wholesalers in Dhaka, Chittagong, Rajshahi, Cox's Bazar, Manikganj used to market those using college-going girls, the media release also said.

During the raids counterfeit drugs and medicine including Motive Xtra and J- Plus, labeled as Made in the US and Desire S Aksim Lab Bangladesh were seized.

The team also recovered Issy R Omega3, Cibacal D, Neogel MaxTM, NeixitTM, OrcalTM, OrkidTM, ImpaleTM and Procare Probiotic4, labeled as made in Guangzhou, China.

Legal action was being taken against the arrestees and efforts were being made to arrest the members of the syndicate.