Medicines worth Rs 4 lakh seized from unlicensed Amazon warehouses, expired drinks found at Bengaluru Hockey Club
In a sweeping crackdown targeting regulatory violations and public health risks, the Karnataka Food Safety and Drug Administration has seized pharmaceuticals worth over ₹4 lakh from two unlicensed storage warehouses operated by e-commerce giant Amazon. The high-profile raids come as part of an intensified statewide surveillance drive that also exposed severe hygiene failures and expired stocks at the prestigious Bengaluru Hockey Club, underlining authorities' zero-tolerance stance on lapses in consumer safety and drug regulations.
Crackdown on Amazon Warehouses Over Illegal Drug Storage
Acting on specific intelligence regarding the unauthorized storage and distribution of medicinal products without mandatory drug licenses, state intelligence officials executed coordinated raids across multiple facilities. The first operation targeted the premises of M/s Amazon Seller Services Private Limited located in Thattanahalli, Anekal taluk, where Assistant Drug Controller Manohar and his team seized unauthorized drugs valued at ₹245,352. In a simultaneous second operation, a team led by Bangalore Rural Drug Inspector Vibha raided Amazon's Aerospace facility in Devanahalli, uncovering and seizing additional unlicensed medicines worth ₹157,000, bringing the total seizure to ₹4,02,352. The state drug administration highlighted these actions as a strict warning against unauthorized digital supply chains operating outside statutory pharmaceutical norms, while official responses from Amazon remain awaited.
Expired Drinks and Severe Hygiene Lapses Uncovered at Bengaluru Hockey Club
Expanding the enforcement blitz, the Food Safety Department conducted a surprise inspection on Saturday at the Bengaluru Hockey Club within the Greater Bengaluru Authority jurisdiction, uncovering alarming violations of public health and food safety standards. Officials discovered 40 bottles of expired soft drinks stashed in the club's storage rooms, alongside soda bottles lacking mandatory FSSAI compliant labeling. The inspection report detailed appalling unsanitary conditions within the kitchen and storage areas, highlighted by active insect infestations that posed severe contamination hazards to members and guests. Consequently, food safety authorities seized all non-compliant and expired stock, issued an immediate show-cause notice to the management, and initiated rigorous legal proceedings under the Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, warning that surprise inspections will continue unabated across commercial and recreational establishments throughout the state.
