Sambalpur: As many as 32 people were arrested and 5,400 bottles of banned cough syrup were seized from their possession in Sambalpur town, police said.
All the accused will be forwarded to court today, said Sadar SDPO Pradep Sahu at a press meet. A case has been registered at Dhanupali police station under NDPS Act and other relevant sections, he added.
Dhanupali Police received information from reliable sources that seven to eight persons are planning to dispose of contravened cough syrup bottles near Jhankarpada.
A police team rushed to the spot and apprehended six persons with 5400 bottles of WINCIREX cough syrup kept in 18 gunny bags containing Codeine Phosphate which is a contraband Psychotropic Substance coming under the NDPS Act, SDPO said.
During interrogation, the accused persons disclosed that they are regularly procuring cough syrup from Kolkata and supplying the same to different drug peddlers in Sambalpur Town.
This time, they had received advance money from the peddlers to procure cough syrup ahead of Dussehra festival.
Police also seized a diary containing the names of drug peddlers who procure the cough syrup bottles for illegal sale during the coming festival.
Later, a team consisting of officials from Dhanupali police station, Sadar, Town, Ainthapali, Boreipali, Khetrajpur PSs conducted raids and arrested 26 drug peddlers who were involved in the cough syrup business.
