Two Indian nationals have been indicted by a U.S. federal grand jury for allegedly orchestrating a scheme to smuggle and distribute counterfeit versions of the popular weight-loss drug Ozempic, the Department of Justice announced on Tuesday, September 29, 2026. One of the defendants, Swapnadip Roy, entered a plea of not guilty following his extradition from Italy, while the second defendant, Vicky Ramancha, remains at large.
Smuggling Network and Discount Distribution
Federal investigators outline a criminal conspiracy operating between July 2023 and April 2024. During this period, Roy and Ramancha allegedly sourced fraudulent medications manufactured in China and funneled them to U.S.-based distributors at discounted rates. The illicit products were outfitted with counterfeit packaging, patient information inserts, and counterfeit labels designed to deceive buyers into believing they were purchasing authentic pharmaceutical-grade Ozempic, a treatment that can cost patients hundreds of dollars each month.
Regulatory Crackdown and Ongoing Operations
The illicit enterprise persisted even after regulatory intervention. According to the Department of Justice, the operation continued functioning unabated even after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized shipments of the counterfeit drugs in December 2023 and issued a public safety warning alerting consumers and distributors to the fraudulent products.
Charges and Legal Consequences
A federal grand jury formally charged both men with smuggling, selling counterfeit drugs, and conspiracy to commit smuggling and to defraud the United States. If convicted on the current indictments, Roy and Ramancha face a maximum sentence of up to 71 years in prison. Legal representatives for Roy did not immediately respond to requests for comment regarding the charges, and counsel for Ramancha was not immediately available.
