Hyderabad, Jan 9: Hyderabad Police and the Drug Control Administration (DCA) raided a company in the Kacheguda area of Hyderabad city in Telangana after receiving secret information about an illegal blood trade.

During the raid, officials were shocked to find about 1,000 liters of blood from goats and sheep packed in bags normally used for storing human blood. The blood was stored without clear paperwork or licenses, and they are still trying to find out how it was being collected and where it was going.

An official said that it was very disturbing to find animal blood packed in bags that are usually meant for human blood.

The raid team also found an autoclave machine, a laminar air flow unit, 110 filled blood bags, and about 60 empty blood bags. The presence of the laminar air flow unit is highly concerning, said the drug inspector, as Laminar air flow is used to transfer blood from one bag to another in a sterile environment to prevent contamination. The equipment’s presence clearly indicates blood processing was happening. These devices suggest the blood was being processed for specific needs.

The inspector said it could have been used for culture media preparation for bacterial growth, or for serum extraction for use in skin treatments, hair products, or vaccine production. The premise was sealed, and samples of blood were sent for lab tests.

A senior official said that the reason for gathering and moving such large amounts of animal blood was still unclear and that finding this out was an important part of the investigation.

A case has been registered at Keesara Police Station under Section 18(c) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

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The official warned that such activities could pose a serious danger to public health.

This story is compiled by Aditi Majhi.