Police on Friday claimed to have busted a factory producing counterfeit drugs in the capital.
Seven people have also been arrested from Kajla, Arambagh and Mitford areas of the city during a raid by the Lalbagh detective branch of Dhaka Metropolitan Police (DMP), officials said.
The arrestees have been identified as Tariqul Islam, Sayed Al Mamun, Saidul Islam, Monwar, Abdul Latif, Nazmul Dhali and Sagar Ahmed Milon.
“During the drive, 700 boxes of ACME-brand medicine Monas, 50 boxes of Square company’s Seclo, 748 boxes of Jenith’s Naproxen-plus and a number of other fake medicines, and dices and boxes, have been seized from the possession of the arrestees,” said Additional Commissioner of DB, AKM Hafiz Akter.
Tariqul Islam and Sayed Al Mamun had set up the illegal factory, where Saidul Islam was the main manufacturer and Monwar and Abdul Latif were working as his assistants, said AC Hafiz.
After manufacturing, Nazmul Dhali used to distribute the counterfeit medicines in the market through some groups in the Mitford area, he said.
“Taking these non-pharmaceutical grade medicines devoid of any active elements and made with low grade starch, steroid and dye can cause severe damage to kidney, liver and heart,” said the DB official.
A syndicate is actively distributing counterfeit medicines, which are more dangerous than any narcotics in the country, and targeting the small-town pharmacies, he said.
The arrestees have been remanded in police custody for three days. An FIR has been filed at the Bangshal police station in connection with the case, said DMP sources.
