В Индии задержан груз с раковыми препаратами, замаскированный под охлаждающую жидкость

HYDERABAD: A suspicious air cargo consignment from Laos, declared as ‘coolant’ but allegedly containing high-value anti-cancer drugs worth crores of rupees, has exposed what investigators believe could be a route used to bring unapproved oncology medicines into India by bypassing regulatory channels. The case has put the spotlight on a suspected network that allegedly uses false declarations to import expensive cancer drugs through air cargo at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Hyderabad. Investigators suspect that once such medicines enter the country outside authorised channels, they are routed through informal networks rather than licensed pharmaceutical supply chains. Officials said the trade is believed to operate through WhatsApp and Telegram groups, as well as online trade platforms, where costly cancer medicines are offered at rates significantly lower than branded products. The huge price difference is seen as a major driver of the alleged illicit trade. Several targeted cancer therapies cost lakhs of rupees, creating a market for cheaper alternatives and an opportunity for illegal importers to evade regulatory scrutiny. One such consignment caught by the Hyderabad air cargo customs officials on Feb 11 was imported in the name of Gita Logistics a partnership firm registered at Vasavi’s MPM Grand in Hyderabad’s Ameerpet area. Senior customs officials told TOI that a show cause notice was issued on Monday to Gita Logistics asking why a penalty for illegally importing anti-cancer drugs and mis-declaring the goods should not be imposed on them. The shipment, consisting of three packages weighing 74 kg, was declared as “coolant: coolguard dry cold box”. The invoice value was shown as just ₹30,323, although the anti-cancer drugs allegedly found inside are estimated to be worth several crores of rupees. Among the drugs recovered were oncology formulations marketed under the Luci/Lucius brand line, including LuciSot 120 mg, LuciSel, LuciBelzu 40 mg, LuciCapiva, LuciElace 345 mg, LuciPac, LuciVande 100, LuciNfig 100 mg, LuciMito and LuciAngare 0.5 mg. These correspond to molecules such as sotorasib, selpercatinib, belzutifan, capivasertib, elacestrant, pacritinib, vandetanib, infigratinib, mitotane and anagrelide, used in the treatment of various cancers and blood disorders. The consignment originated in Vientiane, capital of Lao People’s Democratic Republic (Laos). Customs documents listed the exporter as Thongsamout Vongsitarn of Dongphosy village in Hadsayfong district, Vientiane. The Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) tested samples drawn from the consignment and confirmed that they were anti-cancer drugs. Indira Palaniyandi, deputy drugs controller (India), told TOI that the case did not fall within her jurisdiction, but confirmed that CDSCO had collected samples and identified them as anti-cancer medicines. Vinay Kumar Gupta, assistant drugs controller, said that in the customs case, his department’s role was limited to drawing samples and forwarding them for testing. Despite the alleged misdeclaration, the consignee reportedly told customs authorities that the shipment had been sent to India by mistake and was meant for another country. Customs records indicate that this explanation was accepted, and the consignment was subsequently re-released. Investigators have also found that similar consignments had arrived on multiple occasions over the past few years. Ameerpet address raises questionsWhen TOI visited the address linked to the Gita logistics company in Ameerpet, the premises was found to be unfinished and under construction, with no visible signs of an operational office. Gita Logistics, a partnership firm with addresses in Hyderabad and New Delhi, was incorporated on July 11, 2020. The precise role of the Laos-based pharmaceutical company involved remains under scrutiny. The company, headquartered in Vientiane, states on its website that it is a licensed manufacturer of medicinal products certified by the food and drug department of the ministry of health, Laos, and operates under the supervision of authorised pharmacists. However, investigators have not found any CDSCO licence permitting the import or marketing of these anti-cancer drugs in India. That issue has become central to the probe — whether the consignment was genuinely misrouted, as claimed by the receiver, or whether shipments declared as coolant were being used as a cover to move high-value oncology drugs into India outside approved regulatory channels.