LUCKNOW, Aug. 20 -- The Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has seized counterfeit and illegally stored medicines worth around Rs.4.5 crore in the past eight months while cracking an alleged interstate racket. The latest action on July 19 uncovered an alleged illegal warehouse where medicines worth Rs.21 lakh were seized, officials said on Wednesday. The probe has led to 16 FIRs against 73 operators linked to 33 firms and traced the network across Lucknow, Agra, Varanasi and Gonda, with links to Rajasthan and Uttarakhand.

The investigation, which began at the start of the year, has led to 16 FIRs against 73 operators linked to 33 firms and cancellation of licences of 76 wholesale drug establishments.

Investigators f...