Now, big cache of tablets seized from Kala Amb unit

Ambika Sharma

Tribune News Service

Solan,May 30

In another major seizure, a team of the Punjab Police today seized a large cache of opioid tramadol tablets from the Kala Amb-based Orison Pharma International Group in Sirmaur district.

A team of the Ajnala police in Punjab had recently confiscated 10,000 tramadol capsules which were found manufactured by Orison Pharma and marketed by PP Pharma, Mumbai. The drugs were, however, sold by Shiva Traders, Delhi, as per the company staff. The Mumbai-based company reportedly existed only on papers.

In the raid, which continued till the filing of this report, assistance was provided by the local police and officials of the drug control administration, said assistant drug controller, Nahan, Sunny Kaushal.

This is the second such case in the last week, in which tramadol manufactured in Sirmaur district has been found to have been diverted to Punjab for use as an intoxicant.

As per an amendment made to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules in 2020 which has become implementable from March 1, a marketer has to enter into an agreement with a manufacturer for the sale and distribution of its drugs. He is also responsible for its quality as well as other regulatory compliance along with the manufacturer as per this amendment.

Officials, however, did not find any agreement of the said marketing company, PP Pharma, Mumbai, with the Orison Pharma.

“Since the new amendment has come into effect from March 2021, the absence of an agreement between the marketing company and the manufacturer was a violation of the Drugs and Cosmetics (Amendment), Rules, 2020,” said Sirmaur SP Dr Khushal Chand Sharma.

He said the presence of a company which does not exist in Mumbai indicated malafide intention of the company staff.

The Punjab Police have booked the said unit’s management under Section 22 of the Narcotic Drugs and other Psychotropic Substances Act.

“Since tramadol is used as an intoxicant by drug addicts, its nefarious use by such diversion will be dealt with seriously by the Drug Control Administration,” said State Drugs Controller Navneet Marwaha.

He added that a meeting would be held with all manufacturers on Monday to apprise them of the amendment, to ensure its compliance. A survey of all units manufacturing such drugs will also be conducted soon, he said.

Link detected by Punjab Police

A team of the Ajnala police in Punjab had recently confiscated 10,000 tramadol capsules, which were found manufactured by Orison Pharma International Group in Kala Amb and marketed by PP Pharma, Mumbai. The drugs were, however, sold by Shiva Traders, Delhi, as per company staff. The Mumbai-based company reportedly existed only on paper.