7 busted with counterfeit medicines

The Detective Branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police has arrested seven persons from different areas in the capital and recovered counterfeit medicines of both local and foreign brands from them.

AKM Hafiz Akhter, additional commissioner of DB, told this to journalists at a press briefing yesterday.

According to the police official, the arrestees were held in the capital's Kajla, Arambagh and Mitford areas on Wednesday.

As many as 1,500 boxes of frequently-used medicines, medicine manufacturing equipment, and empty boxes of different well-known medicine companies were seized from their possession, he said. 

The counterfeit medicines include the drugs for Covid-19, cancer and other diseases.

The arrestees are Tariqul Islam, Syed Al Mamun, Saidul Islam, Monowar, Abdul Latif, Nazmul Dhali and Sagar Ahmed Milon.

Tariqul Islam and Syed Al Mamun set up a factory to make these counterfeit medicines. Saidul Islam was the main manufacturer while Monwar used to supply Pharmaceutical Aluminum Foil. The counterfeit drugs were marketed by Sagar Ahmed Milon, the police official said.

The racket has been distributing counterfeit drugs across the country, mostly targeting remote areas, he said.

The DB official said, "We recovered eight types of counterfeit drugs. The racket was copying and manufacturing those. Counterfeit medicines were being sold in the market at a much lower price than the real ones.

"These are more dangerous than narcotics. People take medicine when they get sick. And people get sicker and sicker by taking counterfeit drugs."

He also said that the customers cannot identify the fake drugs. Only those who manufacture can understand.

That is why the DB called upon the drug administration and others to take action against the manufacturers of these counterfeit drugs, he added.

"The ingredients of these drugs do not contain any essential active ingredients. Even steroids and dyes may be used. Non-pharmaceutical grade chemicals can cause serious damage to the kidneys, liver and heart. These counterfeit drugs are a death trap for ordinary people."

A case was filed with Bangshal Police Station in this connection and the arrestees were placed on a three-day remand each.