New Delhi– In a series of coordinated enforcement actions spanning Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, and Chhattisgarh, Indian authorities have dismantled illegal networks trafficking intoxicating cough syrup and narcotic drugs, seizing consignments worth lakhs and arresting five individuals. The crackdowns, reported over the past 24 hours, highlight a surging black market for codeine-based substances amid heightened festival-season vigilance.
In Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, the Food Safety and Drug Administration raided prominent pharmacy KN Pharma on Birhana Road Friday, uncovering a stockpile of controlled narcotic medications valued at over ₹10 lakh. Led by Drug Inspector Rekha Sachan under commissioner’s orders, the operation targeted Phensipic T Syrup, Ultracent Tablets, and Colmpic Tablets. Samples were dispatched for lab analysis, with sales immediately suspended pending verification. Officials warned of potential license revocation or criminal charges, emphasizing the public health risks of unregulated narcotic distribution. A report is due to the Assistant Commissioner of Drugs, Kanpur Division.
Meanwhile, in Bihar’s Supaul district, Bhaptiyahi police intercepted a pickup van during a routine vehicle check late Friday, recovering 4,200 bottles (420 liters) of banned cough syrup hidden inside. The haul, part of an anti-smuggling drive overseen by Superintendent of Police Sharth R.S., led to the arrest of two Begusarai residents, Suraj Kumar and Sumit Kumar. The suspects were transporting the contraband across state lines, underscoring Bihar’s role as a transit hub for such illicit goods.
Further south in Chhattisgarh’s Balrampur district, Wadrafnagar police thwarted a high-end smuggling attempt at a border checkpoint near Uttar Pradesh. Acting on a tip-off, a team under Sub-Inspector Dhiresh Tiwari stopped an Innova Crysta luxury car (valued at ₹15 lakh) from Varanasi, seizing 495 bottles (49.5 liters) of Codeacts cough syrup worth ₹73,755. Three locals from Surguja district—Nageshwar Yadav (22), Atul Yadav (24), and Sugreev alias Pintu Yadav (20)—were apprehended. The accused confessed during interrogation and were remanded to judicial custody under Section 21(c) of the NDPS Act, with the vehicle confiscated.
Experts attribute the uptick in such busts to codeine syrup’s misuse as a recreational drug, often mixed with sodas in urban youth culture. “These operations send a clear message: no leniency for those endangering lives for profit,” said a senior narcotics official. Investigations continue, with links to interstate syndicates under probe. Public appeals urge reporting suspicious pharmacy activities to curb the epidemic.
