Two Indian nationals have been charged in a federal court in Florida for allegedly smuggling counterfeit Ozempic from China into the United States, the US Department of Justice said on Tuesday.
One of the accused, 33-year-old Swapnadip Roy, was extradited from Italy and made his first appearance in US District Court in Tampa. His alleged co-conspirator, Vicky Ramancha, 37, remains at large.
The two men face one count of conspiracy to commit smuggling and defraud the United States, three counts of smuggling, and two counts related to selling and holding counterfeit drugs for sale. If convicted on all charges, each could face a maximum sentence of 71 years in prison.
According to court documents, Roy and Ramancha allegedly obtained counterfeit Ozempic from unauthorised sources in China between July 2023 and April 2024.
Prosecutors said the products included fake packaging, package inserts, pen labels and needles designed to make customers believe they were buying genuine Ozempic.
The indictment alleges that Ramancha entered into agreements with companies in Florida to supply products described as Ozempic and Ozempic syringes at deeply discounted prices.
Federal prosecutors also allege that Roy used threats in November 2023 to pressure others involved in the distribution process.
The scheme allegedly continued even after the US Food and Drug Administration seized some of the counterfeit products and issued a public warning in 2023.
According to the indictment, after learning about the FDA seizure, a co-conspirator asked Ramancha whether the warning would affect a pending order for 60,000 additional units. Ramancha allegedly replied that it would not, while warning that customers should avoid drawing attention.
The case comes amid growing demand in the US for GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, which are widely used for diabetes and increasingly sought for weight loss.
Gallup reported in July that 11 per cent of US adults were using GLP-1 drugs for weight loss in 2026, compared with 3 per cent in 2024. Around 15 per cent said they had used such medications for weight loss at some point.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva said counterfeit prescription drugs pose a serious threat to public health and the integrity of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
The allegations remain unproven, and both defendants are presumed innocent unless convicted in court.
