At least two Indians have been charged in the United States for allegedly smuggling and selling counterfeit Ozempic, the diabetes and weight-loss drug.
The indictment by a federal grand jury in the Middle District of Florida has alleged that the accused, Swapandip Roy and Vicky Ramancha, and their co-conspirators obtained counterfeit Ozempic in China and sold it to US distributors at discounted prices, according to the US Department of Justice.
The counterfeit medication included packaging, inserts, pen labels, and needles allegedly meant to convince purchasers that they were receiving authentic Ozempic, the popular weight-loss drug that can cost hundreds of dollars per month for patients. The court documents showed that between July 2023 and April 2024, Roy and Ramancha obtained counterfeit Ozempic from unauthorised sources in China.
One of the defendants, Roy, has pleaded not guilty during his initial appearance in court in Tampa, Florida, after being extradited from Italy, while the other, Ramancha, remains at large, the department said. “The scheme continued even after the FDA seized some of the counterfeit Ozempic in December 2023 and issued a public warning regarding the products,” the Justice Department said.
