Two Indians Indicted in Counterfeit Ozempic Case
Two Indian nationals have been indicted in the United States over an alleged transnational scheme involving counterfeit Ozempic sourced from China and sold to American distributors using fake packaging and labels.
Two Indians Charged in Counterfeit Ozempic Case
Swapnadip Roy, 33, and Vicky Ramancha, 37, have been charged by a federal grand jury in Florida with conspiracy, smuggling and offences related to the sale of counterfeit prescription drugs.
US prosecutors allege that the scheme operated from at least July 2023 until April 2024 and involved counterfeit versions of Ozempic, a prescription medicine widely used for diabetes and increasingly associated with weight-loss treatment.
The defendants are accused of selling the counterfeit products to US distributors at heavily discounted prices.
Fake Ozempic Allegedly Sourced From China
Investigators allege that Roy and Ramancha obtained the counterfeit medication from unauthorised suppliers in China.
The products allegedly included fake packaging, package inserts, pen labels and needles designed to make buyers believe they were receiving authentic Ozempic.
Authorities said parts of the counterfeit supply were seized in December 2023, followed by a public warning, but the alleged scheme continued for several more months.
One Accused Extradited, Another Remains At Large
Roy was arrested following an Interpol Red Notice and later extradited from Italy to the United States. He has pleaded not guilty.
Ramancha remains at large.
Both men are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit smuggling and defraud the United States, three smuggling counts and two counts related to selling and holding counterfeit drugs for sale.
If convicted on all charges, each could face a maximum cumulative sentence of up to 71 years in prison. The allegations have not yet been proven in court.
