Intelligence Agency Busts Network Forging Local Medicine Packaging as Foreign Products

The Federal Intelligence and Investigation Agency announced on Wednesday the dismantling of a network involved in forging locally manufactured medicine packaging and replacing it with counterfeit packaging bearing global brand names. The agency revealed the existence of a clandestine workshop that refills medicines containing substances such as starch, children's gelatin, and dexon, packaging them in foreign-labeled boxes to market them as imported vitamins and dietary supplements, distributing them to warehouses and pharmacies. An intelligence and technical team was formed to investigate the site, monitor the workers, and track the distribution of these counterfeit medicines in the field to seize and prevent their circulation. After completing the technical and judicial procedures, a force from the agency raided the site, seizing over 300,000 different items used in medicine forgery, along with equipment for packaging and imitating trademarks, and labels of well-known pharmaceutical brands. Nine individuals were arrested, including six holding Pakistani nationality, in the capital city. During interrogation, the suspects confessed to their criminal acts threatening the health and pharmaceutical security of citizens; their statements were recorded and referred to the judiciary. The site was closed, and all counterfeit medicines distributed to warehouses and pharmacies were confiscated. The agency confirmed that this operation is part of ongoing efforts to combat pharmaceutical fraud and protect the health and safety of the public.