MUZAFFARABAD (Kashmir English): Smuggling of illegal medicines has become commonplace in Muzaffarabad, due to the drug mafia, but the police haven’t successfully halted their operations yet which recently came to light when authorities found medicines transported on hay trucks and Hiaces used as makeshift platforms.
In the state capital, drug mafia activities are open and put people’s lives in danger, as the health department remains uninvolved. Shockingly, expensive medicines are now being transported in hay trucks and on the roofs of Toyota Hiace vans.
Under the cover of the health department, medical store owners are distributing death among citizens. A clear example is the recent seizure of medicines from a hay truck.
During the day, medicines were confiscated from a hay truck, and by evening, highly expensive drugs were found on the roof of a Toyota Hiace in Kohala.
Sources say a sensitive injection used for critical illnesses was among the seized items. The Kohala police are above board, while the health department keeps putting people at risk. Drug inspectors here are said to fear losing their positions, causing them to hesitate when taking action.
People who trust the drugs they get are, in reality, using medicines that may no longer be good and could harm them.
Earlier, medicines were recovered from a truck meant for transporting buffalo fodder in Kohala.
The medical store owner named on the supply documents denied involvement when talking to Kashmir Digital, saying, “We don’t even deal in English medicines. We don’t know who sent these drugs.” Yet, the bill was issued in their name.
The selling of fake and substandard medicines and unsafe transportation methods has raised concern among the public. Recently, expired medication with altered names was also caught being sold, adding to the problem.
At the same time, opposition leaders have talked about this issue in the assembly and delivered a notice requesting the government’s attention. It warns that news about bogus medicine is spreading across social media and should be investigated right away because it is very concerning for public health.
