UP Cough Syrup Scandal: 75 Arrests, Over 12 Lakh Bottles Seized in 31 Districts
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In a major crackdown against the illicit trade of codeine-based cough syrup, Uttar Pradesh's Parliamentary Affairs and Finance Minister Suresh Khanna announced that 75 people have been arrested and 74 cases registered across 31 districts. The operation, led by a Special Investigation Team, has recovered over 12.65 lakh bottles of the cough syrup and taken action against 132 firms suspected of involvement in the racket. According to Khanna, the investigation has revealed that large consignments of codeine-based cough syrup were being diverted from retail medical stores to the black market, with the possibility of the syrup being smuggled to Nepal and Bangladesh. The minister alleged that the accused had links with the Samajwadi Party and were using fake bills to conceal their illicit activities. Codeine-based cough syrup is a scheduled medication that can only be sold by retail chemists with a valid medical prescription. The Uttar Pradesh Police, in coordination with the Drug Administration Department, has been conducting a sustained campaign against the illegal storage, purchase, sale, and diversion of the cough syrup since the directions of the chief minister. The Special Investigation Team, led by a Director General of Police, has taken action against 15 key conspirators and issued look-out circulars against 12 main accused. The process to issue LOCs against other suspects is underway. The crackdown is a significant step towards curbing the illicit trade of codeine-based cough syrup in Uttar Pradesh.
