Federal authorities have indicted two Indian nationals for their alleged roles in a scheme to smuggle counterfeit Ozempic into the United States from unauthorized manufacturers in China. The charges, unsealed Tuesday in the Middle District of Florida, allege the pair conspired to distribute thousands of fake units of the popular weight-loss drug, which is manufactured by Novo Nordisk.
Swapnadip Roy, 33, appeared in U.S. District Court in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday after being extradited from Italy. His alleged co-conspirator, Vicky Ramancha, 37, remains at large. Both face up to 71 years in prison if convicted on charges including conspiracy to smuggle, smuggling, and selling counterfeit drugs.
The indictment alleges the scheme operated from July 2023 to April 2024, with Roy and Ramancha obtaining counterfeit Ozempic from unauthorized sources in China. The fake products included counterfeit packaging, inserts, labels, and needles, designed to deceive customers into believing they were purchasing authentic medication. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had previously warned about counterfeit Ozempic in the U.S. supply chain in December 2023.
According to court documents, the counterfeit units were sold to U.S. distributors at discounted prices, who then resold them to consumers. The FDA requires a prescription for GLP-1 medications like Ozempic, which have surged in popularity for weight loss. A July 2024 Gallup poll found that 11% of U.S. adults reported taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss, up from 3% in 2024.
Assistant Attorney General Merrick Garland emphasized the risks posed by counterfeit prescription drugs, stating in a DOJ release, 'Counterfeit prescription drugs — especially common ones — threaten the health and safety of every American who depends on the integrity of our pharmaceutical supply.' The case highlights ongoing concerns about the proliferation of counterfeit medications in the U.S. market amid rising demand for GLP-1 drugs.