Udupi: In one of the largest global crackdowns on illicit pharmaceutical trafficking, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has uncovered a major international drug network with operational roots in Udupi, Karnataka.
Dubbed ‘Operation Med-Max’, the probe revealed that a modest call centre in Udupi played a key role in handling international orders for banned prescription drugs and coordinating their delivery across four continents.
The investigation began in May with the arrest of two B. Pharma graduates in New Delhi. Their statements led NCB officials to a stockist in Roorkee, then to a crucial link in Mayur Vihar, and ultimately to a key operator based in Udupi.
A subsequent raid on the residence of Suresh Kumar K, a native of Tamil Nadu and resident of Kunjeebettu, revealed a vast network. Data from his systems pointed to 50 illegal consignments, including 29 within the US, 18 in Australia, and shipments to Estonia, Spain, and Switzerland.
Operating under the name Med Max Digital Centre, the call centre had nearly 10 employees, most of whom were reportedly unaware of the illegal operations. They processed international inquiries via a B2B portal, accepted advance payments in cryptocurrency, and routed orders through anonymous drop shippers abroad.
Udupi Superintendent of Police Hariram Shankar confirmed that the racket was not a local operation. No drugs were manufactured or stored in Udupi, and the innocent employees were not arrested