NCB Secures Major Conviction in Pharma Drug Diversion Case
The Narcotics Control Bureau announced a significant legal victory on Monday. The agency secured convictions in a major case involving illegal diversion of pharmaceutical precursors. This case centered on a Haryana-based company and its senior officials.
Interception at Pipavav Port Leads to Investigation
Based on specific intelligence received in March 2023, NCB officials intercepted a shipping container at Pipavav Port in Gujarat. The container was destined for export to Africa. It originated from ICD Panchi in Sonipat, Haryana.
The consignment contained approximately 60 lakh pharmaceutical capsules. These were declared as containing ephedrine or pseudoephedrine. During the investigation, authorities examined three products within the shipment: ALPCIT, COLDFIT, and T-DOL.
Investigators discovered a critical discrepancy. While ALPCIT legitimately contained the controlled substance pseudoephedrine, the other two products were falsely declared. They did not contain the substance as claimed.
Clandestine Diversion of Controlled Substance
Further investigation established a deliberate scheme. Approximately 6 kilograms of pseudoephedrine, purportedly shown as consumed in manufacturing COLDFIT and T-DOL, had been secretly diverted. This diversion violated the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.
Pseudoephedrine serves as a critical precursor in the illicit manufacture of methamphetamine. Methamphetamine is a dangerous psychotropic substance. It poses serious threats to both public health and national security.
Company Officials and Entity Face Legal Action
The NCB investigation revealed deliberate falsification of manufacturing and export records. Senior company officials were actively involved in the illegal activity. The agency arrested three key individuals connected to M/s Alps Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd.
- Sumit Kumar, the Managing Director.
- Sumit Kumar, the Store In-charge.
- Dhanesh Chamoli, the Authorized Chief Chemist-cum-Production Manager.
The corporate entity, Alps Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., was also formally charged as an accused party in the case.
Legal Proceedings and Court Judgment
The case was registered under multiple sections of the NDPS Act, 1985, and relevant provisions of the NDPS Order, 2013. The complaint was filed before the Court at Savarkundla in Amreli, Gujarat, on November 24, 2023.
During the investigation and trial, the accused sought bail from various judicial forums, including the Supreme Court of India. The NCB stated that bail pleas were not accepted. The court considered the seriousness of the offence and its transnational ramifications. The strong evidentiary foundation presented by the NCB also influenced the decision.
After a detailed trial, the court delivered its judgment on January 12, 2026. The court convicted all three accused individuals. It sentenced each to seven years of rigorous imprisonment. Each individual also received a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh.
The company, M/s Alps Life Sciences Pvt. Ltd., was also convicted. The court imposed a fine of Rs 1.5 lakh on the corporate entity.
This conviction marks a major success for the NCB's Ahmedabad Zonal Unit, which investigated the case. It underscores the agency's ongoing efforts to combat the diversion of pharmaceutical precursors used in illicit drug manufacturing networks.
