Typo Errors, Colour Mismatch Lead to Bust of Fake Mounjaro in Gurugram
Gurugram: Colour dissimilarity to typographical errors, conspicuous differences in the packaging of counterfeit Mounjaro injections led the Drugs Control Office to crack down on the illicit sale and production of the blockbuster diabetes and weight loss drug running out of a flat in Gurugram, officials said.
The alleged mastermind Avi Sharma procured raw materials from China through popular e-commerce website Alibaba, said drugs control officer Amandeep Chauhan.
Officials carried out a raid on April 18 and seized fake Mounjaro (tirzepatide) injections worth ₹70 lakh from a vehicle in DLF Phase 4.Giving details of the investigation, Chauhan said the team compared the spurious sample against the original one and found that the boxes of the fake injection had different shades of blue and red.
He also said that there were glaring typographical errors on the fake versions, compared to the original one.
"While both boxes have an illustration of an injection pen, it is clear and bright on the original one, but blurred, dark, and shorter on the fake version," Chauhan said, while adding that they are still waiting for the lab results of the seized samples.
During a follow-up probe, the team raided a flat in Gurugram's Sector 62 where injections were allegedly prepared by mixing water with raw drugs.Police first arrested Mujjamil, a deliveryman from DLF Phase 4. Later, Avi Sharma was also taken into custody.
An official said 32-year-old Sharma started the production of counterfeit injections to earn more money as he wasn't generating much revenue from his previous venture.
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