The much-awaited series Dabba Cartel was released on Netflix on February 28, 2025. Directed by Hitesh Bhatia, Dabba Cartel on Netflix revolves around five middle-class women and an FDSCO Officer. While a group of 5 women started a Dabba System (Lunchbox system) and started selling drugs with it, the FDSCO Officer deeply investigated the unregulated sale of banned medicine named Modella in Punjab. Dabba Cartel marks the OTT debut of veteran actress Shabana Azmi, who plays the character of Sheila, a retired drug businesswoman who used to handle gangster Sultan Mirza's drug empire in Mumbai. Since the series mention about Punjab and sale of banned drugs in Amritsar, it forces to fans to wonder whether Dabba Cartel is a true story or Dabba Cartel is a real story or not. Below is all you need to know about the Dabba Cartel Real Story-
Is Dabba Cartel a true story?
The answer is no. The makers, at the start of the series, mention that Dabba Cartel is a work of fiction. However, the series outlines the drug abuse in Punjab and how some doctors are even prescribing banned drugs in the state.
Dabba Cartel Storyline and Modella Medicine
Dabba Cartel started with a Punjabi couple returning to Amritsar late at night. While the husband was sleeping in the passenger's seat, his wife, who was feeling sleepy, was driving the car. While driving the car, his wife fell asleep, resulting in a deadly accident. The man lost his wife, but the Police then find a bottle of a medicine named Modella. On investigation by the Punjab Police, it was found that Modella is a banned drug that the woman was taking. As a result, the court directs FDSCO the job of investigating of death of Parul Bibi Kaur of Amritsar and her link with Modella.
FDSCO is a drug agency that stands for Federal Drug Standard Control Organisation in the Netflix series. The Drug Inspector of FDSCO, played by actor Gajraj Rao, explains that Modella Opioid based pain medication is banned but still on sale unregulated in Punjab.
Did you know the Punjab Govt banned a similar medicine in 2024?
Yes! You heard it right. The district magistrates across Punjab banned the sale and stocking of a medicine named pregabalin over 75mg, with an aim to curb the misuse of pregabalin tablets. It was observed that pregabalin containing 150mg and 30mg in capsule/tablet form were highly being misused, and people were getting addicted to the formulations, commonly known as signature. Notably, the said drug which is used to treat neuro pain among humans and animals, is not covered by the NDPS Act violation.
In fact, it was reported that the unregulated sale of Prega is turning out to be a new Chitta for drug addicts. Infamously called 'Ghoda', Pregabalin became a go-to for the village youths.
Interestingly, 2 medicines also came under the scanner of the Centre. Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation (CDSCO) moved the proposal to tighten the noose around the sales of Pregabalin and Tapentadol painkillers after receiving complaints about ‘misuse and intoxication’.
While Tapentadol is a serious habit-forming opioid-based drug, Pregabalin is not an opioid, but some studies suggest that people with a history of opioid use may be more likely to abuse pregabalin.