Two brothers from India, Avanish Kumar Jha, 38, and Rajnish Kumar Jha, 35, appeared in federal court on Friday to face charges related to selling counterfeit and adulterated drugs in the United States. The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Western District of Washington announced the indictment, which stems from an ongoing investigation that began in 2019.
The Jha brothers were arrested in Singapore on April 20, 2023, following a request from U.S. authorities. In January, a Singaporean court approved their extradition, and on February 24, the country’s minister for law ordered their surrender.
The investigation into the brothers and their company, Dhrishti Pharma International, began when U.S. authorities discovered online listings indicating that they were selling prescription drugs both in the U.S. and abroad. Undercover agents from the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations and Homeland Security Investigations purchased the brothers’ drugs, which included counterfeit versions of Keytruda, a cancer treatment manufactured by Merck.
Lab testing revealed that the counterfeit Keytruda lacked active ingredients, and other drugs were found to contain contaminants. The brothers allegedly shipped these counterfeit drugs from India and accepted payments via wire transfers and cash. U.S. intermediaries were reportedly involved in collecting payments, and the drugs were packaged to evade detection.
The brothers face 28 felony charges, including charges related to drug distribution and the sale of counterfeit drugs. If convicted, they could face significant prison sentences.
The trial is set for May 5 before U.S. District Judge Ricardo S. Martinez.
