Two Indian nationals indicted in counterfeit Ozempic smuggling scheme

Between July 2023 and April 2024, Roy and alleged co-conspirator Vicky Ramancha are accused of obtaining counterfeit Ozempic from China and selling it to U.S. distributors at discounted prices. The counterfeit medication reportedly included packaging, inserts, and labels designed to deceive purchasers into believing they were receiving authentic Ozempic, a popular weight-loss drug that can cost hundreds of dollars per month.

The Justice Department noted that the scheme persisted even after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized some of the counterfeit Ozempic in December 2023 and issued a public warning about the products. Roy and Ramancha face charges including smuggling and selling counterfeit drugs, and conspiracy to commit smuggling and defraud the United States, with a potential maximum sentence of 71 years in prison if convicted.