Ghaziabad: A major counterfeit supplement racket allegedly targeting people looking to build muscle and improve their physique has been busted in Ghaziabad, raising serious concerns over the safety of products being consumed by gym-goers.
The Shalimar Garden police, along with the SWAT and Surveillance Team of the Trans-Hindon Zone, have arrested five people and recovered fake supplements and allopathic medicines worth around ₹50 lakh, according to police.
The case has triggered concern because the seized material reportedly includes bodybuilding products, steroids, peptides and injections. The actual composition and safety of the seized products will be established through laboratory testing.
Fake labels, unknown ingredients
According to police, the accused allegedly purchased raw materials, printed labels, mono cartons, empty bottles and holograms to manufacture and package counterfeit products.
The products were then allegedly sold using packaging bearing the names and monograms of different companies, allowing the accused to charge customers higher prices.
Police said the investigation also uncovered shops operating under the names Nutrition World and Nutrition Adda in the Vijay Nagar area. A warehouse in Vijay Nagar was allegedly being used to store and package the counterfeit products.
Police are also looking for Lalit Sharma, whose alleged role in operating the warehouse has emerged during the investigation.
Five arrested in the case
Police arrested Dilip Pandey (39), Virbhan alias Ravi (34), Rohit Wakshi alias Laddu (35), Hanny Kulshrestha (30) and Aryan (24) on September 15.
Dilip Pandey and Virbhan are reportedly residents of Old Seemapuri in Delhi, while Rohit, Hanny and Aryan are from the Vijay Nagar area.
During questioning, police allegedly found that raw materials and packaging material were being sourced from Delhi-based individuals identified as Mohit and Adil. Their alleged involvement is also being investigated.
Dianabol, Anadrol, HGH and peptide products recovered
The seizure reportedly includes products labelled Dianabol, Anadrol, Testolone RAD, Pragma, Myodrol, Bulkzilla, GHRP-6, Musclemass Gainer, MK-677, IGF-1 and HGH X2, besides injections, peptide kits, empty bottles, cartons and holograms.
These substances are particularly concerning because some bodybuilding products containing steroid or steroid-like ingredients can carry serious health risks when misused or when their contents are unknown.
The US Food and Drug Administration has previously warned that certain bodybuilding products containing hidden steroid or steroid-like substances have been associated with serious adverse effects, including liver injury, kidney damage, heart attack and stroke. The agency has also received reports involving life-threatening reactions and deaths associated with certain bodybuilding products.
However, there is currently no evidence establishing that the products seized in this Ghaziabad case caused any deaths. Their contents and potential health effects will need to be established through laboratory testing.
The real danger: you may not know what you are consuming
For gym-goers, the case highlights a dangerous problem with counterfeit supplements: a familiar brand name or attractive packaging does not necessarily mean the product inside is genuine.
A fake protein powder, injection or bodybuilding capsule could contain an incorrect dose, undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients, contaminants or substances completely different from what is printed on the label.
That makes counterfeit products potentially far more dangerous than ordinary low-quality supplements.
Laboratory tests to reveal the truth
Police have sent samples of the seized products for laboratory examination. The investigation will determine whether the products contained the ingredients mentioned on their labels and whether they complied with prescribed formulations.
The police action has also raised questions about how counterfeit bodybuilding products reach consumers and whether buyers are unknowingly taking potentially dangerous substances in their pursuit of faster muscle growth.
For consumers, the warning is simple: a bigger body should never come at the cost of an unknown substance entering the bloodstream.
Before buying protein powders, injections or bodybuilding products, consumers should verify the product’s authenticity, manufacturer, ingredients and regulatory information rather than relying solely on packaging, social media recommendations or gym-based sales.