Ahmedabad Police raid 724 medical stores overnight, 160 cases registered including one under NDPS Act

In a sweeping late-night operation on Tuesday, the Ahmedabad City Police conducted surprise inspections at 724 medical stores across the city on Wednesday. The operation resulted in the registration of 160 cases, including one under the stringent Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.

According to senior police officials, the coordinated drive was part of a citywide crackdown on irregularities in the pharmaceutical retail sector.

Police teams from various zones fanned across neighbourhoods, targeting chemist shops suspected of operating without proper licenses, maintaining incomplete records, or illegally dispensing restricted medications.

A senior official involved in the operation said, “Out of the 724 stores checked, 160 were found to be in violation of various regulations. One serious case under the NDPS Act has also been registered after restricted substances were found at a medical shop without proper documentation or prescription records.”

The action comes amid increasing concerns over the misuse of prescription drugs and the illegal sale of psychotropic substances in urban areas. The police said further investigations are underway and warned that such surprise checks will continue in the coming days.

The Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) has also been roped in for joint scrutiny of seized stocks and verification of drug records. Authorities are expected to issue notices and pursue licence suspension proceedings against defaulting retailers.

This citywide crackdown follows similar enforcement actions in other districts of Gujarat in recent months, indicating a coordinated state-level effort to curb pharmaceutical malpractice.