Pharmacy Raided Thousands Dicyclomine Bentyl Tablets Seized In Drug Crackdown

In Metairie, Louisiana  and the War Against Drugs campaign, authorities in Metairie recently raided a chemist shop, seizing a substantial quantity of medications, including thousands of Bentyl tablets, believed to have been involved in unauthorized sales. The operation, spearheaded by the Deputy Commissioner, in which he targeted Capital Pharma, an illegal chemist shop located. A joint team from the Health and Police Departments descended on the establishment, where they discovered 19 types of allopathic medicines being sold without the mandatory purchase and sale records. Among the seized drugs were 4,400  Bentyl dicyclomine tablets, a medication commonly known by its brand name Bentyl, used to treat irritable bowel syndrome. While Bentyl dicyclomine is not a controlled substance with the same abuse potential as opioids, its diversion and sale without proper documentation raise serious concerns about illicit drug trade and potential misuse. The raid also netted 5,128 pregabalin capsules and 1,800 gabapentin capsules/tablets, both of which are sometimes subject to misuse as narcotic substances. The deputy commissioner emphasized the administration's stringent regulation of certain medicines, including pregabalin, gabapentin, and anafortan injections, to curb their abuse. An FIR (First Information Report) has been registered against the owner of Capital Pharma, and a detailed investigation is currently underway to determine the full extent of the operation and any wider networks involved. This incident follows a recent sealing of an illegal drug de-addiction center in Jamsher, where 34 youths were rescued, highlighting the district's proactive approach to combating drug abuse. The administration's commitment to rehabilitating drug-affected individuals and urged citizens to utilize the district's de-addiction helpline and WhatsApp number to report drug abuse cases, assuring confidentiality for informants. While specific instances of Bentyl theft are less frequently reported in comparison to highly addictive opioids, misused or sold illegal drugs is still a global challenging problem.