IGIS Of Crime Branch Served Notices To 130 Drug Wholesalers In Lucknow And Kanpur Under NDPS Act

Mumbai, 4 Jan 2019: Scores of drug dealers in the districts of Lucknow and Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh have landed in soup following a notice by inter-border gangs investigation squad (IGIS) of crime branch of the Delhi police after recovery of a large quantity of spasmo-proxyvon plus capsules of different batches. Spasmo-proxyvon plus capsules manufactured by Wockhardt Ltd containing tramadol, paracetamol and dicyclomine is a narcotic drug falling under NDPS Act.

The drug, a pain killer prescribed by doctors to relieve spasmodic type of pain including irritable bowel syndrome, cephalalgia, was seized by IGIS of crime branch. 

IGIS of crime branch has served notices to around 130 drug wholesalers in Lucknow and Kanpur under section 67 of Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985 asking them to furnish information related to sale of spasmo-proxyvon plus capsules manufactured by Wockhardt Ltd containing tramadol, paracetamol and dicyclomine. Tramadol is a narcotic drug falling under NDPS Act. The Union finance ministry in a gazette notification on April 26, 2018 had brought tramadol, a painkiller drug, under NDPS Act to rein in its abuse.

With this, narcotics control bureau (NCB) and other law enforcement agencies can raid and prosecute those who prepare drugs containing tramadol without permission. 

The central government had banned production and sale of painkiller Dextropropoxyphene and its formulations on May 23, 2013 over concerns about its consumption. Dextropropoxyphene was used in spasmo proxyvon manufactured by Wockhardt.

After the ban, Wockhardt started using tramadol, paracetamol and dicyclomine under a new name spasmo proxyvon plus.

Inspector Sunil Kumar, IGIS, crime branch, Dwarka in a letter to more than hundred stockists had sought copies of drug licenses and details pertaining to purchase & sale of spasmo proxyvon plus capsules since April 1, 2018 to till date along with copy of sales invoice, copy of receiving endorsed by consignees, copy of Builty/GR etc. Besides this, traders were also asked to furnish details of consignees who received the consignments of the drug of different batches from April 1 last year to till date. 

In Lucknow, Balaji Sales Agency, Rajni Pharma, Rakesh Pharma, Vardhman were among the stockists who received notice from IGIS, crime branch. Scores of traders were also served notices in Kanpur. 

Most of the stockists who have submitted requisite details to IGIS, crime branch are still facing difficulty in carrying out business due to unwanted scrutiny by the law enforcement agency. 

A stockist who has submitted requisite documents to IGIS, crime branch a couple of months back on condition of anonymity said despite furnishing details, we are still facing crime branch inquiry. It has taken a toll on our business, he added. 

Raising objection to the crime branch action, he said, “The crime branch has no authority to issue notice to drug traders under section 67 of NDPS Act seeking sale and purchase details of a narcotic drug. The Lucknow bench of Allahabad High Court in the similar matter misc case no- 8953/2013 (Ramdayal Mathur vs Union of India) quashed the notice issued under section 67 of NDPS Act.”

No wholesaler supplies drugs direct to consumers. It is delivered through retailers. How can a wholesaler responsible for the drug seized from the accused. How can a person purchase a drug from scores of traders. We are wrongly being implicated in the matter which we have nothing to do with,” he stated.

Echoing the similar view, a drug inspector stated that once a drug wholesaler/retailer has valid licence under the provision of Drugs and Cosmetics Act, the provision of NDPS Act will not attract on him any manner.  Pharmabiz