New Delhi — A relentless surge in seizures of codeine-based cough syrups and narcotic tablets across multiple states over the past 48-72 hours has laid bare the rampant diversion of pharmaceutical drugs for illicit misuse, with experts pointing fingers at the glaring absence of a nationwide track-and-trace system, overly permissive allotments of codeine to manufacturers, and the apathy of state drugs controllers in monitoring production and distribution. From cross-border smuggling rackets in Bihar to daylight robberies in Tripura and petty officials peddling intoxicants in Chhattisgarh, these incidents reveal how “legal” medicines are being siphoned off into black markets, fueling addiction among youth and generating crores in illegal profits — all while regulatory loopholes allow the crisis to fester.
Wave of Seizures Highlights Diversion Tactics
In Bihar’s Sitamarhi district alone, multiple operations underscore the scale of the problem. On March 1, a joint raid by Sashastra Seema Bal (SSB) and local police in Shri Khandi Bhittha village dismantled a major drug network on the India-Nepal border, recovering dozens of cartons of prohibited codeine phosphate syrups, Triprolidine Hydrochloride mixtures, and narcotic tablets like Pyenvon Spas Plus. Vinay Kumar alias Vikram Mukhiya (46) was arrested, with authorities noting the stash was prepared for supply to youth for intoxication purposes. In a similar bust nearby, another 150 bottles of codeine syrup and 64 narcotic tablets were seized, leading to the arrest of the same suspect.
Further south in Sitamarhi’s Belsand area, police arrested Md. Naushad and Roshan Kumar with 480 bottles (100 ml each) of banned codeine syrup hidden in a tempo, valued at lakhs and destined for illegal sale. In Katihar, a heavy shipment of restricted Codeine cough syrup was confiscated from a courier company at Paani Tanki Chowk, ordered under a medical store’s name but suspected for illicit trade — no arrests yet, but investigations point to a broader network.
Muzaffarpur police revealed an alarming trend: over 1,500 bottles of banned codeine syrup seized from January to March 2026, part of a larger haul worth ₹50 lakh since June 2025. Smugglers are routing consignments from Nepal via Sitamarhi and from Bangladesh through Kolkata, with specific seizures including 343 bottles in Gayghat (three arrested), 2,203 in Samastipur (two arrested), and others in East Champaran, Madhubani, and Sitamarhi. Officials suspect an international syndicate targeting North Bihar’s youth.
In West Bengal’s Malda district, Gajol police intercepted two trucks on National Highway 12, seizing a staggering 29,100 bottles of prohibited cough syrup (14,250 from one truck, 14,850 from the other) en route from a Howrah warehouse to Bihar via Dalkhola and Purnia. Three men — Ibrahim Sheikh (31), Hasibul Sheikh (34), and Suryakant Karmakar (26) — were arrested and remanded for 10 days to trace the gang’s roots. This marks the largest recovery in the area’s history.
Chhattisgarh saw two notable busts: In Rajnandgaon, police nabbed four individuals (including a minor) with 150 intoxicating tablets and capsules at Lakhoili Under Bridge, part of a pre-Holi crackdown on sales. The minor was sent to a correction home, others to jail. In Surajpur, a tehsil peon, Abhishek Sahu, was arrested at Tiliswa Ground with 560 Alprazolam tablets and 48 Spasmo Proxyvon Plus capsules, intended for supply under the NDPS Act.
Rajasthan’s Hanumangarh district witnessed a multi-pronged operation, arresting five with 36.21 grams of heroin (“chitta”) and 400 banned intoxicating tablets across Bhadra, Sangaria, Hanumangarh Junction, and Pilibanga — all under the NDPS Act.
In Tripura’s Charilam Bazaar, a Phensedyl-laden vehicle worth ₹15 lakh was attacked in a daylight robbery near Bishalgarh bypass, injuring several. Locals captured one assailant, Sumit Saha, handing him to police, highlighting the violent competition in contraband syrup trafficking.
Himachal Pradesh reported back-to-back seizures at toll barriers: In Solan (Parwanoo), two youths — Yash Kumar (20) and Sonu Kumar (24) — were arrested with 500 Tapentadol Hydrochloride tablets (controlled substance) from Chandigarh, lacking any valid license. Cases under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act were filed, with probes into their criminal records and supply chains.
Systemic Failures: No Track-and-Trace, Easy & overly Allotments, and Regulatory Inertia
These incidents paint a damning picture of systemic vulnerabilities. Codeine, a key ingredient in cough syrups like Onerex and Phensedyl, is allotted to manufacturers in large quantities by central authorities without stringent end-use verification, allowing easy diversion from factories or wholesalers to black markets. State drugs controllers, tasked with monitoring manufacturing units, have shown apathy in conducting regular audits or enforcing batch tracking, enabling overproduction and undocumented sales.
The absence of a mandatory track-and-trace system — with QR codes and real-time digital monitoring from manufacturer to retailer — exacerbates the issue. As seen in Bihar’s cross-border hauls and West Bengal’s warehouse-to-Bihar shipments, drugs vanish into illicit channels without traceability, ending up in couriers, vehicles, or border smugglers. Experts note that while states like Bihar and Himachal Pradesh are proactive in seizures, the lack of upstream checks by drug controllers allows manufacturers to exploit loose allotments, producing excess for “misuse” markets.
Anti-narcotics activists warn that these diverted drugs — often consumed for opioid highs — are destroying youth, with effects on the brain, liver, and nervous system. The violent Tripura robbery illustrates the criminal ecosystem thriving on this apathy.
Urgent Calls for Reform
Public health campaigners and police officials are demanding immediate action: Implement a robust national track-and-trace system for all habit-forming drugs, tighten codeine allotments with mandatory audits, and hold state drugs controllers accountable for manufacturing oversight. Without these reforms, such rackets will persist, endangering lives and eroding trust in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
As festivals like Holi approach, authorities vow intensified vigilance, but the root causes remain unaddressed. The youth cannot wait — the government must act now.
