2 indicted in connection with counterfeit Ozempic scheme in Florida

September 29, 2026 / 4:03 PM EDT / CBS News

Two Indian nationals have been indicted on conspiracy and smuggling charges related to an international scheme to sell counterfeit Ozempic to U.S. distributors, according to court filings unsealed on Tuesday.

Swapnadip Roy, 33, and Vicky Ramancha, 37, who are both residents of Dubai and Indian citizens, were indicted in the Middle District of Florida in 2025 for allegedly smuggling counterfeit Ozempic to distributors in the United States at discounted prices.

Roy and Ramancha allegedly smuggled and sold thousands of counterfeit units of the popular weight-loss drug into the U.S. from unauthorized manufacturers in China, subverting the highly regulated wholesale distribution market in the U.S. that is overseen by the Food and Drug Administration.

Roy made his initial appearance in federal court on Tuesday after being extradited from Italy to the U.S. Ramancha is still at large.

Roy and Ramancha are charged with one count of conspiracy to commit smuggling and to defraud the U.S., three counts of smuggling, and two counts of selling counterfeit drugs and holding counterfeit drugs for sale. If convicted, they each face a maximum penalty of 71 years in prison.

The scheme began in July 2023…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/moneywatch/