{
  "id": 2202780,
  "title": "17 held for selling counterfeit, illegally diverted anti-cancer drugs to patients across 6 metros",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/20/17-held-for-selling-counterfeit-illegally-diverted-anti-cancer-drugs",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-08-20T19:01:28.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/17-held-for-selling-counterfeit-illegally-diverted-anti-cancer-drugs-to-patients-across-6-metros-10842487/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Delhi Police have apprehended 17 individuals, including four hospital employees, for allegedly distributing counterfeit and unlawfully redirected anti-cancer medications to cancer patients across six major cities. The drugs involved include Keytruda, Opdyta, Darzalex, Imfinzi, Erbitux, Gazyva, Bavencio, and Adcetris, which are utilized for targeted and immunotherapies in treating various cancers. The seized medications, ranging in price from Rs 15,000 to Rs 2 lakh per vial, were procured through three channels: diversion of medicines from government institutions and warehouses, theft from private hospitals, and the manufacture of counterfeit drugs. Police uncovered a network that allegedly created fake vials, packaging, and batch numbers, filling them with sterile water before selling them at a reduced price to desperate patients. A senior police official stated that the investigation has revealed significant shortcomings in drug disposal and hospital oversight, posing grave risks to cancer patients. Police are probing the diversion of anti-cancer drugs from Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) stocks, particularly in Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh. They have recovered 588 filled vials, six empty vials, and seven empty boxes of anti-cancer injections so far. The investigation team has also seized records and diaries containing transaction details and cash dealings. Among those arrested are Anand Kumar from Noida, Deepak from Faridabad, and Mayank Garg from Gurugram, each with varying quantities of suspected anti-cancer vials.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [
    "Police arrest 17 individuals, including 4 hospital employees, for selling counterfeit cancer drugs.",
    "Drugs include Keytruda, Opdyta, and Adcetris used for targeted and immunotherapies.",
    "Counterfeit drugs procured via diversion, theft, and counterfeit manufacturing networks."
  ],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}