GURUGRAM: Having emerged as a COVID drug-smuggling hub, Gurugram has now caught the attention of international smugglers as they are now procuring COVID treatment drugs and smuggling them abroad.
The Gurugram Drug Control Department has busted a drug-smuggling cartel that not only hoarded the COVID treatment drug but was also to smuggle the same to Iraq in an upcoming Vande Bharat flight.
Working as translators, three people including two Iraqi men and one Uzbek woman were nabbed from Sector 47 along with the COVID treatment drugs Remdesivir (48 vials), Fabiflu (55 strips), Lopikast (18 packs).
Remdesivir costs Rs 5,400 a vial in India and is reportedly sold at Rs 1 lakh a vial in Iraq. Similarly, Fabiflu strip is sold at Rs 2,500 here and is priced at Rs 8,000 there while Lopikast vila, which is sold at Rs 3,990 here, is sold at Rs 15,000 there.
The trio, who have failed to produce any valid visas or passports, reportedly confessed trying to cash on the drug shortage in Iraq and its high rates in the black market there.
“We got a tip-off and busted the racket. Amongst the seizure is medicines which are of compassionate use for the treatment of COVID-19. The three accused at the spot could not provide a valid passport and visa. They would procure the COVID drugs easily available on MRP from Gurugram and would send it to Iraq. We are investigating the racket further,” said Gurugram Controller Amandeep Chauhan.
Sources claim that the cartel had somehow procured the traveller list of the forthcoming flight schedule for Iraq and planned to send the medicines in small batches with the Iraqi nationals.
While those with medical ailments were to take these hidden amongst other medicines, others would have taken it shielded in other articles. Following the raid, the aviation authorities have been put on alert for these drugs being carried by any passenger.
According to state Drug Controller Narender Ahuja, all-district departments are on alert over black marketing attempts of COVID treatment drugs available at the MRP in Haryana.
“We are overseeing procurement and the dispensing of the COVID-treatment drugs to patients and have arranged direct hospital-to-company supply chains to stop black marketing. Penal action shall be taken against those indulging in the same,” Ahuja added.