Patna: In a major crackdown on counterfeit pharmaceuticals, the Bihar Drug Control Administration on Friday busted an illegal spurious drug manufacturing unit operating out of a residential house in the Ramkrishna Nagar police station area of Patna.Acting on specific intelligence, officials raided the premises and seized a large cache of counterfeit medicines, packaging materials, wrappers bearing reputed drug brand names, and drug-making machinery worth nearly Rs 8 lakh.According to officials, the illegal factory was run under the name “Vibha Biotech” by the main accused, Sunil Kumar Jha, who has been booked and the premises sealed. During the raid, authorities recovered spurious products including fake cough syrups, fever medications, pain relief syrups and skin ointments that were being falsely branded as established brands such as Liv 52 syrup, Ibugesic Plus syrup and Cosglo New cream.Drug inspectors said the presence of full-scale drug manufacturing equipment inside a residential building indicated the unit’s capability to churn out significant quantities of fake medicines. Officials warned that such substandard or adulterated products pose serious health risks to patients, especially if they enter regular supply chains and reach unsuspecting consumers.Also Read: CDSCO Flags Popular Pantoprazole, Telmisartan Batches as Spurious in November AlertInvestigators have also flagged that the racket extended beyond Patna, with supplies from the illegal unit reportedly reaching multiple districts including Purnia, Madhepura, Darbhanga, Samastipur, Gopalganj, Saharsa and Siwan. The operation was said to involve hundreds of people handling marketing, supply distribution and order collection in rural areas, according to Patna Drug Inspector Jitendra Kumar.Further investigation is underway to identify all individuals involved and trace the full distribution network used to circulate the counterfeit drugs. Legal action will be initiated against those responsible under relevant provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, officials said.Authorities have urged the public to remain vigilant while purchasing medicines and to report any suspected fake drugs to the Drug Control Administration or local law enforcement, as part of efforts to intensify surveillance and enforcement against spurious drug manufacturing units, reports PatnaPress.Also Read: Former IFS Officer Arrested in Spurious Medicines Racket in Puducherry