New Delhi– Authorities across multiple states have intensified efforts to curb the illegal trade and misuse of narcotic substances disguised as cough syrups, pills, and injections. Recent raids and seizures highlight a growing concern over addiction and smuggling networks. Below is a statewise breakdown of the reported incidents.
Uttar Pradesh
In Kanpur, Food Safety and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Roshan Jacob, angry with the working style of the Drug Department in the matter of drugs, herself came to the city on Tuesday to conduct a surprise inspection. She along with the drug inspection team conducted raids on five firms, including Agarwal Brothers, Medicina, Masayko, Vedansh, and SGPS, recovering narcotic drugs worth 7.50 crore rupees. The seized items included large quantities of codeine-based cough syrups and tramadol tablets, with no purchase-sale documents found. The warehouses were sealed, and FIRs are being filed under the NDPS Act. A separate raid on Agarwal Brothers’ warehouse revealed codeine-based cough syrup, tramadol tablets, and expired medicines, leading to orders for FIRs under the NDPS Act and Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
In Gorakhpur, near the India-Nepal border in Thuthibari, a joint SSB and police team arrested three smugglers—Suraj Kharwar, Chetan Narayan Chaudhary, and Kulanarayan Chaudhary—seizing 142 Buprenorphine injections, 137 Promethazine ampoules, 161 Nitrazepam tablets, 718 Proxyco capsules, 105 Spasmo-Proxyvon Capsules, 690 Proxyco capsules, and 951 Proximek Spa capsules. Cash and a motorcycle were also recovered. The drugs were being smuggled to Nepal with altered price stickers for triple the value.
In Saharanpur, a joint STF and Narcotics team raided locations linked to a codeine cough syrup smuggling network, taking two drug dealer brothers into custody for questioning after their licenses were canceled. Documents were seized, and one suspect remains at large. The operation is connected to a larger bust in Ghaziabad involving banned Escuf and Phensedyl syrups.
Odisha
In Boudh district, police have conducted multiple seizures amid ongoing illegal cough syrup trade fueling addiction. In 2021, over 1,500 bottles worth 3 lakh rupees were seized from a vehicle, with one arrest. In 2022, 640 bottles and narcotic tablets were recovered, leading to another arrest. In July 2025, 1,798 bottles were seized after smugglers abandoned a vehicle.
Chhattisgarh
In Ambikapur, the Divisional Excise Flying Squad seized 42 Rexogesic and 42 Avil injections worth 42,000 rupees from Anish Tigga, who was arrested under the NDPS Act and remanded to judicial custody.
Madhya Pradesh
In Maihar, under “Operation Pahad 2.0,” police seized 212 vials of banned Onrex cough syrup worth 6,55,440 rupees, along with a car and mobile phones. Two smugglers, Gajendra Singh and Shashwat Singh Patel, were arrested and charged under the NDPS Act and Drug Control Act.
Uttarakhand
In Haridwar’s Bahadrabad, under the Drugs Free Devbhoomi campaign, police arrested history-sheeter Sinto with 100 Lagesic Bufomysin injections. He had bought them cheaply and was selling them at a higher price; charges were filed under the NDPS Act.Telangana
In Hyderabad’s Hayathnagar, the Excise Department arrested medical representative Jalla Naresh with 714 bottles of banned cough syrup and 130 alprazolam tablets (26 grams). A case was registered under the NDPS Act, with investigations ongoing.
These operations underscore the nationwide push against narcotic misuse, with authorities vowing continued vigilance to dismantle supply chains.
