Five people were arrested in Ghaziabad after police busted a racket allegedly involved in preparing, packaging and supplying counterfeit gym supplements and related medicines, officials said on Wednesday. Items with an estimated market value of Rs 50 lakh were seized during raids.
The operation was carried out after police received information about the group's activities, with raids conducted at a storage facility in Shalimar Garden and two shops in the Vijay Nagar area.
Fake medicines, supplements seized
Deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Dhawal Jaiswal said two suspects, both residents of Delhi's Seemapuri, were arrested from a godown in Shalimar Garden.
“A gang that prepared and sold fake supplements and related medicines was unearthed… The seized items, having an estimated value of ₹50 lakh, included fake medicines, food supplements, steroid injections, etc., which they sold locally as gym supplements. They had come up with a storage godown in Shalimar Garden, and the facility was used to store and package items for further supply,” Jaiswal said during a press conference at the Ghaziabad police lines.
Police said the godown was being used to store and package the products before they were supplied further.
Three arrested from Vijay Nagar shops
During questioning, the two suspects allegedly told investigators about two shops in Vijay Nagar from where the packaged products were being sold to customers.
Police subsequently raided the shops and arrested three more people, all residents of Vijay Nagar.
“The suspects said they received a supply of items from a suspect in Punjab. This person is also a suspect in the case, and teams have been formed to trace him,” the DCP added.
Officials said the counterfeit products were prepared using spurious and prohibited drugs. The seized items were allegedly marketed for purposes including health improvement, muscle building, hormonal balancing, improving testosterone levels and addressing vitamin deficiencies.
Samples sent for laboratory testing
Police recovered around 20 different packaged products during the raids. Samples have been sent for laboratory analysis to determine their composition.
“We recovered about 20 different packaged items during the raids. The items do not adhere to the prescribed formula, and these are harmful for health. Further investigation is underway,” the DCP added.
Officials said the arrested suspects had allegedly been operating the business for around six months. Police are also probing the possible involvement of three to four more people in the racket.