"We have lost medicines estimated at Rs 10 lakh in May and these drugs find their way back into the market, possibly at a discount," a Cipla spokesperson said. The theft of medicine cartons have apparently increased over the last six months, despite precautionary measures, like changing transportation route, adopted by pharmaceutical companies.According to transporters, at least 10 cases of theft are reported every month involving loss of around Rs 50 lakh to Rs 1 crore.

The Bombay Goods Transport Association (BGTA), in a strongly worded statement, has urged the police authorities to taken immediate and concerted steps to nab the culprits.

"We met the police authorities and have asked them to step up vigilance on the roads. If thefts continue to rise, it willbecome impossible for us to ply our vehicles," BGTA president Pravinchandra C Shah said.

According to him, the highway thefts are organised, mainly in the Thane-Bhiwandi belt.

"The police have not been cooperative in either registering the cases or recovering the stolen vehicle," said Shah. The transporters have also approached the state authorities.

Citing 13 specific instances of such robberies in May, he said the thefts would have been higher as most cases are not reported to the association.

In one such instance, a Cuttack-bound truck, loaded by Maruti Freight Movers on May 4 for Pfizer, carrying goods worth Rs 20 lakh was hijacked. The truck was later found with goods worth Rs 15 lakh missing.

In the case of Cipla, the company had hired Malik Transport Company for transporting its drugs. The vehicle was loaded on May 15 but the next day, 48 cartons valued around Rs 7.6 lakh were found missing. Another truck carrying Cipla's medicines was attacked on May 26 between Bhiwandi and Padga and somecargo forcibly removed.

According to transporters, the robbers target high-value cargo which can also be easily sold in the market. Hence, cargo involving medicines, copper rods, paints, motor parts and raw material for textiles is the target.

The trucks of Okay Transport Corporation (carrying motor parts), Premier Road Carries and Best Exports and Import Carriers (loaded with seven coils of rods valued around Rs 21 lakh) have been reported missing.

The loss in most case is borne by the transporter even if the cargo is ensured. "The insurance company pays the loss to theconsignee or consignor, as the case may be, but also approaches the consumer court to obtain a decree against the transporter," Maharashtra Rajya Truck Tempo Tankers Bus Vahatuk Mahasangh president Mohinder Singh Ghura said.

In case the cargo is not insured, the consignor company tries to recover the loss by making adjustments in the bills of transporters, he added.

According to him, the situation can be controlled if the consigneeis also made party to the loss. "Since transporters are not allowed to insure cargo, the consignee should be forced to insure the material so that the transporter is not burdened with the loss," he said.