Ahmedabad: A major racket involved in the unauthorized production and distribution of the bulk drug pregabalin across Ahmedabad and Ankleshwar was busted on Thursday.

During the investigation, the Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) discovered that Ahmedabad-based Estime Enterprise had been selling pregabalin without the required license. Authorities recovered evidence indicating the sale of around 4,300 kg of the drug, valued at approximately Rs 85 lakh. The probe led to two more firms—Axis Pharmachem in Ankleshwar and Iconic Pharmachem in Panoli.

Pregabalin is a crucial active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) used in treatments for nerve pain, epilepsy, and anxiety disorders.

FDCA Commissioner H G Koshia stated that Iconic Pharmachem was illegally manufacturing pregabalin without a drug manufacturing license, while Axis Pharmachem was allegedly enabling these sales by misusing its own license and collecting commissions without proper documentation. Nearly 1,000 kg of pregabalin worth Rs 21.5 lakh was seized from Iconic Pharmachem.

Additionally, Estime Enterprise’s branch in Bharuch was found operating without valid licenses and issuing unauthorized test reports, from which another 35 kg of the API was seized.

Those under scrutiny in the case include Nimesh Shah and Harish Ashwin Joshi of Estime Enterprise, Pravin Patel of Axis Pharmachem, Bhavesh Chalodiya of Iconic Pharmachem, and Lalit Raiyani from Biocrom Analytical Lab. The lab, which lacked both proper licensing and legal approvals, was reportedly issuing drug test reports through WhatsApp. DeshGujarat