A significant theft has been uncovered at Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories, a pharmaceutical company, where eight individuals, including four employees, have been arrested for stealing Semaglutide, an anti-diabetic drug worth over ₹2 crore. The gang attempted to sell the patented product on the black market, according to the Srikakulam police. The theft occurred on February 23, 2025, at the company’s Pydibhimavaram warehouse, where the accused stole 460 grams of Semaglutide, a rare and high-value substance used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
The investigation revealed that the theft was an inside job led by employees, including GV Raghavendra, who accessed the freezer storage unit and stole the product. The other employees, Dronadula Suresh, N Appala Naidu, and Gollapalli Kantarao, were also involved in the theft. The four outsiders, G Suresh Reddy, A Tirupati, K Balakrishna, and B Naveen Kumar, were reportedly from Hyderabad and had prior experience in the pharmaceutical industry.
The probe showed that Raghavendra handed over the stolen product to Appala Naidu, Suresh, and Kantarao, who delivered it to Tirupati, who then took it to Suresh Reddy in Hyderabad for sale on the black market. However, tensions arose when Raghavendra demanded the product back, but Suresh Reddy allegedly returned fake powder instead. The police formed three investigative teams and eventually arrested the eight accused, recovering 440 grams of genuine Semaglutide and 460 grams of counterfeit powder.
Semaglutide is a strictly regulated substance meant solely for export by the patent-holder, Dr. Reddy’s, and has high value in the international black market, making it a target for organized theft. The police are also investigating a link to another high-value theft, where 3.38 kg of palladium acetate, worth ₹60 lakh, was stolen from the warehouse in May 2025. The management of Dr. Reddy’s disclosed this information during an ongoing audit, and the police suspect that the same gang may have been involved. The incident highlights the need for increased security measures to prevent such thefts and protect high-value substances from falling into the wrong hands.