Police and FDA seize 612 bottles of banned Oxytocin from Ulhasnagar dairy
On Thursday, a joint team of the police and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) seized 612 bottles of banned Oxytocin injections during a raid at a dairy in Ulhasnagar, Thane. The operation targeted a local tabela owned by 64-year-old Prakash Wadhwani, where authorities uncovered the large stash of the restricted hormonal drug.
According to official reports, the seized 100-ml bottles carried no brand name or manufacturer details. Wadhwani owns 55 buffaloes at the tabela and sells more than 250 litres of milk daily through his dairy outlet in Ulhasnagar. The raid was conducted to address the illegal use of the drug in dairy animals to artificially boost milk production.
FDA inspector Manish Ghotmare, who participated in the joint action, emphasized the significance of the seizure. Ghotmare stated that Oxytocin is prohibited for routine use in dairy animals. He explained that the administration of Oxytocin to dairy animals, as well as the consumption of milk from these animals, poses significant health risks to both humans and the animals themselves.
Following the raid, the Central police station has initiated a deeper probe into the supply chain. Investigating officer Deva Kobarne stated that efforts are currently underway to identify the exact source of the seized consignment. Kobarne added that police suspect the involvement of an interstate racket that is actively supplying the restricted drug for illegal use in dairies.
Providing veterinary context on the drug, Ashok Bhonsle, an Assistant Professor at the College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (COVAS) in Udgir, explained that Oxytocin is a hormonal injection. Bhonsle noted that it can legally be administered only on the prescription of a registered veterinary doctor, and only when it is medically required for an animal. However, he pointed out that some tabela owners in Mumbai and other areas illegally procure these hormonal injections to increase milk production and facilitate faster milk extraction from their livestock.
