Two Indian nationals face federal charges in Florida for allegedly smuggling counterfeit Ozempic from China into the United States, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. Federal prosecutors unsealed an indictment charging 33-year-old Swapnadip Roy and 37-year-old Vicky Ramancha with multiple counts of smuggling and selling fake prescription drugs in a scheme that reportedly continued even after Food and Drug Administration seizures.
Federal Charges and Extradition in Florida Court
Swapnadip Roy was extradited from Italy and made his initial appearance in U.S. District Court in Tampa, Florida, on Tuesday. Roy and his co-defendant, Vicky Ramancha, face a six-count indictment.
The indictment charges the men with:
- One count of conspiracy to commit smuggling and to defraud the United States
- Three counts of smuggling
- Two counts of selling counterfeit drugs and holding counterfeit drugs for sale
If convicted, both defendants face a maximum sentence of 71 years in prison. Court records indicate that Vicky Ramancha remained at large as of Tuesday.
Timeline of the Alleged China-to-U.S. Smuggling Scheme
Court documents show the alleged conspiracy operated from July 2023 through April 2024. During this period, Roy and Ramancha allegedly sourced counterfeit versions of the popular weight-loss medication Ozempic from unauthorized sources in China.
The Department of Justice stated that the shipments included fake packaging, package inserts, pen labels, and needles designed to trick downstream buyers into believing they were purchasing authentic medication authorized by the manufacturer, Novo. The scheme reportedly persisted despite FDA public safety warnings and border seizures of fraudulent products in 2023.
Surging GLP-1 Demand and Pharmaceutical Safety Risks
The federal prosecution arrives amid surging demand across the United States for GLP-1 medications. According to Gallup polling data released in July, the percentage of U.S. adults taking GLP-1 medications for weight loss reached 11% in 2026, up from 3% in 2024. Also, 15% of surveyed adults reported having used the drugs for weight loss at some point, a nine-percentage-point increase over 2024 figures.
Assistant Attorney General A. Tysen Duva of the DOJ Criminal Division warned that illicit trade networks target high-demand pharmaceuticals.
"Counterfeit prescription drugs — especially common ones — threaten the health and safety of every American who depends on the integrity of our pharmaceutical supply," Duva said in a statement. "These defendants allegedly exploited people’s health to pay themselves. We will keep pursuing anyone who seeks to deceive American consumers with counterfeit drugs."
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