Eluru police arrest five medical shop owners for selling Tramadol without prescription

In a crackdown on the illegal sale of controlled substances, the Jangareddygudem police in Eluru district have arrested five medical shop owners for allegedly selling Tramadol injections without a doctor's prescription. Around 880 vials of the sedative were seized during the operation.

Acting on a tip-off, the police raided a private medical agency in the town and took its owner, Sai Kishore, into custody. During questioning, investigators learned that five medical shop owners — identified as Rajasekhar, Durga Prasad, Satish, Siva Krishna, and Chiranjeevi — had been procuring their stocks from Sai Kishore and selling the injections to customers without any valid prescription.

Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) B. H. Venkateswarlu said that cases have been registered against all the accused under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, and other relevant sections. “We are trying to find out from where and from whom the main accused procured the Tramadol stocks,” he told the media on Tuesday.

Tramadol is a synthetic opioid analgesic used to treat moderate to severe pain. It is classified as a psychotropic substance under the NDPS Act, and its sale without a prescription is illegal. Unregulated use of the drug can lead to addiction and serious health complications, making such enforcement actions critical for public health and safety.

The arrests highlight the ongoing issue of prescription drug abuse in the region. Police have urged the public to report any instances of illegal drug sales and to avoid purchasing medicines without proper medical consultation.

Further investigation is underway to trace the supply chain of the seized Tramadol vials, including the original source of the drugs. The authorities have assured that strict action will be taken against all individuals involved in the unlawful distribution of controlled medications.