Mumbai Call Center Exposed in Cross-Border Counterfeit Drug Operation Targeting US Consumers
A sophisticated counterfeit pharmaceutical operation operating from Mumbai has been dismantled by Indian authorities, revealing an elaborate scheme that exploited stolen American data to sell fake and controlled medicines to consumers in the United States. The Mumbai Crime Branch's raid on a commercial complex in Jogeshwari has exposed a transnational criminal enterprise that allegedly impersonated legitimate US pharmaceutical companies while processing payments through fraudulent websites designed to mimic authentic portals.
Background and Context
The illegal call center, operating from Kevnipada on S.V. Road in the Amboli area of Jogeshwari (West), represents an increasingly sophisticated form of cyber-enabled pharmaceutical fraud. According to investigators from Crime Branch Unit 9, the syndicate had been active for approximately six to seven months, exploiting loopholes in international pharmaceutical regulation and cross-border data security measures. The operation capitalized on both the growing demand for affordable medication in the United States and the increasing vulnerability of personal financial data to theft and exploitation.
This case highlights a broader trend of transnational pharmaceutical fraud that has accelerated since the COVID-19 pandemic, with criminal networks increasingly targeting consumers in high-income countries through online channels. The use of call centers based in jurisdictions with limited regulatory oversight has become a preferred method for such operations, allowing perpetrators to exploit time zone differences and jurisdictional challenges while accessing stolen consumer data through illicit markets.
Key Figures and Entities
The investigation has identified eleven individuals allegedly involved in the operation, with eight currently in custody and three remaining at large. Those arrested include Mohammad Aamir Iqbal Shaikh (40), Mahir Iqbal Patel (26), Mohammad Shabib Mohammad Khalil Shaikh (26), Mohammad Ayaz Parvez Shaikh (26), Adam Ehsanullah Shaikh (32), Aryan Mushaffir Qureshi (19), Amaan Aziz Ahmed Shaikh (19), and Hashmat Jamil Jariwala (29). According to court documents, all eight have been remanded to police custody until December 10.
The alleged mastermind of the operation, identified as Muzaffar Shaikh (43), remains absconding along with his associates Aamir Maniyar and others unnamed in court filings. Investigators believe the operation involved a complex network including data suppliers who provided stolen personal information of US nationals and international collaborators who helped process and launder payments. The syndicate allegedly impersonated representatives of established American pharmaceutical companies, leveraging stolen consumer data to lend credibility to their fraudulent pitches.
Legal and Financial Mechanisms
The operation employed multiple layers of deception to facilitate its fraudulent activities. According to police statements, the accused created sophisticated email and website templates that closely mimicked legitimate pharmaceutical portals, enabling them to convince American consumers of their authenticity. Victims were allegedly offered medications including controlled substances like Viagra at substantially discounted prices, with promises of direct delivery to their homes.
Financial investigations are now focusing on the suspected use of underground financial networks, including cryptocurrency transfers and money transfer applications, to move proceeds across international borders while evading detection. Preliminary findings indicate several transactions that may have violated both foreign exchange regulations and anti-money laundering statutes. Digital devices seized during the raid—including laptops, hard drives, headsets, and USB drives—are currently undergoing forensic analysis to determine the full scope of the operation, including the total value of funds siphoned from victims.
Legal proceedings are being coordinated through the Esplanade Court in Mumbai, where authorities are examining call recordings, email exchanges, and bank accounts linked to the suspects. If prosecutors can establish that the operation was part of a broader transnational criminal network, additional charges under money laundering and cross-border financial crime provisions may be pursued.
International Implications and Policy Response
This case exposes significant vulnerabilities in the global pharmaceutical supply chain and cross-border data protection regimes. The operation's success in exploiting stolen American consumer data highlights the urgent need for enhanced international cooperation in combating pharmaceutical fraud and protecting sensitive personal information across jurisdictions. Financial regulators in both India and the United States are likely to scrutinize payment processing systems that enabled the fraudulent transactions, potentially leading to new compliance requirements for financial institutions handling cross-border pharmaceutical payments.
The investigation underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies when confronting transnational cyber-enabled crimes that span multiple legal jurisdictions. While Indian authorities have dismantled the Mumbai-based call center, the international dimension of the operation—including the sourcing of stolen data and the routing of financial proceeds—will require cooperation with American and potentially other international agencies to fully address. This case may prompt renewed discussions about strengthening the legal frameworks governing online pharmaceutical sales and international data protection agreements.
Sources
This report draws on official statements from the Mumbai Crime Branch Unit 9, court documents from the Esplanade Court, and media coverage of the December 5, 2025 raid in Jogeshwari (West). Information regarding the operation's methods and scale was obtained from police press releases and court filings related to the custody remand of the eight arrested individuals.
