Gujarat ANTF inspects 213 medical stores, 25 NDPS notices issued
Synopsis
Gujarat's Anti-Narcotics Task Force inspected 213 pharmacies in a single week and triggered 25 regulatory notices — the sharpest enforcement signal since a 7,575-store sweep last year. With the Ahmedabad and Surat zones drawing the most notices, the crackdown suggests prescription-medicine diversion is a live concern well beyond Gujarat's border corridors.
Key Takeaways
Gujarat ANTF inspected 213 medical stores and pharmacies between 6 and 12 October for NDPS Act compliance.
The Food and Drugs Department issued 25 notices for regulatory violations found during the drive.
The Gandhinagar Surveillance headquarters covered the most establishments — 64 — while Ahmedabad received the most notices — 11 .
A previous drive in July last year inspected 7,575 stores jointly with the Food and Drugs Control Administration .
Officials confirmed that zonal inspections will continue as a regular enforcement measure across Gujarat .
Gujarat Police's Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) inspected 213 medical stores and pharmacies across the state between 6 and 12 October, checking compliance with rules governing medicines linked to the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The Food and Drugs Department issued 25 notices for regulatory violations identified during the week-long drive.
Scope of the Operation
The inspections were carried out by the ANTF's various regional zones along with its Surveillance headquarters in Gandhinagar, acting on directions from senior officials. The exercise targeted the illegal sale, storage, and distribution of narcotic substances and NDPS-linked medicines, as well as their misuse by individuals seeking to circumvent prescription requirements.
Of the 213 establishments checked, the Surveillance headquarters in Gandhinagar covered the highest share, inspecting 64 stores. The Vadodara zone accounted for 43 inspections, followed by the Rajkot zone at 36 and the Border zone at 32. The Ahmedabad zone checked 23 pharmacies, while the Surat zone inspected 15.
Notices Issued Zone-Wise
Of the 25 regulatory notices issued by the Food and Drugs Department, the highest number — 11 — went to establishments in the Ahmedabad zone. The Surat zone received 10 notices, while four were issued to pharmacies covered under the Surveillance headquarters zone in Gandhinagar.
Context: A Continuing Statewide Push
The latest drive is part of a sustained enforcement effort. In July last year, Gujarat Police inspected 7,575 medical stores in a separate crackdown conducted alongside the Food and Drugs Control Administration, focusing on prescription compliance and restrictions on the sale of controlled medicines. The scale of that earlier exercise — covering more than 35 times as many outlets — underscores the breadth of the compliance challenge across the state.
Notably, the ANTF's mandate extends beyond street-level narcotics enforcement to include the regulated pharmaceutical supply chain, recognising that diverted prescription medicines are a significant driver of substance misuse in India.
What Officials Said
'Such inspections and surveillance would continue to prevent the illegal trade and misuse of narcotic substances and NDPS-related medicines across Gujarat,' officials said, signalling that further rounds of checks are planned.
What Happens Next
The pharmacies served with notices are expected to respond to the Food and Drugs Department within a stipulated period, and establishments found in repeated or serious violation may face licence action. The ANTF has indicated that zonal inspections will remain a regular feature of its anti-narcotics strategy going forward.
Point of View
25 notices — are modest relative to Gujarat's total pharmacy count, but the exercise matters for what it signals about enforcement intent at the regulated end of the drug supply chain. Prescription-medicine diversion is chronically under-policed compared with street narcotics, even though diverted opioids and psychotropics are a major driver of addiction. The Ahmedabad and Surat zones drawing the bulk of notices is worth watching: both are high-density commercial corridors where high-volume pharmacies can obscure irregular sales patterns. The real test will be whether the notices lead to licence action or quietly lapse — past drives have not always closed the loop on compliance outcomes.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the Gujarat ANTF inspection of medical stores involve?
The Gujarat Anti-Narcotics Task Force inspected 213 pharmacies and medical stores between 6 and 12 October to check compliance with rules governing the sale of NDPS-linked medicines. Officials examined whether establishments were following prescribed procedures for storing and dispensing controlled medicines, and the Food and Drugs Department issued 25 notices for violations found during the exercise.
Which zone received the most NDPS notices in this drive?
The Ahmedabad zone received the highest number of notices — 11 out of 25 — followed by the Surat zone with 10. The Surveillance headquarters zone in Gandhinagar accounted for the remaining four notices.
How does this inspection compare with Gujarat's previous anti-narcotics pharmacy drives?
In July last year, Gujarat Police and the Food and Drugs Control Administration jointly inspected 7,575 medical stores in a single drive focused on prescription compliance and controlled-medicine sales restrictions. The latest operation covered 213 stores, making it narrower in scope but still a significant enforcement signal from the ANTF.
Why are medical stores inspected under the NDPS Act?
Certain medicines — including some opioids, sedatives, and psychotropic drugs — are regulated under the NDPS Act because they are prone to diversion and misuse when sold without valid prescriptions. Inspections verify that pharmacies maintain proper records, dispense controlled medicines only against legitimate prescriptions, and do not stock or distribute substances outside legal channels.
What action follows the 25 notices issued to Gujarat pharmacies?
Establishments served with notices are typically required to respond to the Food and Drugs Department within a stipulated period. Depending on the severity of the violation, outcomes can range from a compliance warning to suspension or cancellation of a pharmacy's licence. Officials have indicated that surveillance inspections will continue across Gujarat.
