The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has unearthed a significant racket involving the diversion of pharmaceutical fentanyl and other drugs covered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act into unauthorised channels in rural Punjab. The investigation, which began with a seizure of intoxicant tablets from a private establishment in Attari in early June, has now extended to a pharmacist in Moga and led to the arrest of a doctor.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the operation commenced following the recovery of intoxicant tablets from a private establishment at Attari. The NCB, in coordination with the Drug Inspector, conducted a search of Chan Medicos in Attari on June 1. During this search, 742 dosage units of NDPS-covered pharmaceutical drugs were seized, allegedly stocked without valid authorisation. Preliminary examination revealed that the establishment was operating from a clinical setup where a pharmacist was reportedly impersonating a doctor. Furthermore, records indicated manipulation and a failure to maintain mandatory stock registers, raising immediate concerns about the legitimacy of its operations.
The investigation subsequently led the agency to a pharmacist based in Moga, who is now the primary suspect in allegedly diverting pharmaceutical NDPS drugs, including potent substances like fentanyl and ketamine, from legitimate supply chains to unauthorised outlets. This individual is currently absconding, and efforts are underway to apprehend them.
Follow-up searches conducted in Moga on August 10 and 11 yielded substantial seizures, totalling 18,172 dosage units. This haul comprised 9,120 tablets, 8,784 ampoules/vials, 168 transdermal patches, and 100 suppositories. The seized medications belonged to 15 different NDPS-scheduled substances, including fentanyl, ketamine, tramadol, buprenorphine, and morphine. Significantly, the seizure included approximately 7.37 litres of liquid fentanyl, a highly potent opioid that has become a major focus of drug enforcement agencies globally due to its role in the ongoing opioid crisis.
According to the NCB, the alleged diversion of pharmaceutical fentanyl into unauthorised channels in rural Punjab is a new and emerging area of concern for enforcement agencies. Such diversions had not been prominently noticed in the region previously, indicating a potentially escalating problem. The agency also noted the systemic failure to maintain mandatory records concerning the storage and distribution of these pharmaceutical NDPS drugs at the Moga premises, further highlighting a deliberate attempt to conceal illicit activities.
The NCB is now intensifying its probe into the broader supply chain to understand how these drugs were procured and diverted from legitimate pharmaceutical channels. The agency aims to identify all individuals involved in this alleged racket and dismantle the network responsible for distributing these dangerous substances. Further investigation is ongoing, with a focus on tracing the origin of the diverted drugs and their intended destinations within the illicit market. The case underscores the challenges faced by authorities in combating the sophisticated methods employed by drug traffickers to exploit pharmaceutical supplies for illegal purposes.
The Chenab Times News Desk