Bhubaneswar, Odisha : The twin cities of Bhubaneswar and Cuttack have emerged as a disturbing hotspot for the trafficking of narcotic cough syrup. In a massive overnight crackdown, the Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch and Drug Control authorities raided two godowns and seized over 26,600 bottles of banned codeine phosphate cough syrup, smuggled illegally from Patna, Bihar, via private courier services.
The cough syrup, popular among youth for its low cost and easy access, is being misused as a cheap narcotic alternative, raising alarm among enforcement and health authorities alike.
Instead of being delivered to licensed pharmacies, these consignments were being directly routed to drug peddlers. During the coordinated late-night operation, 13,000+ bottles were seized from a courier hub in Mancheswar Industrial Estate, while a similar quantity was found at another godown near LIC Colony, Badambadi, Cuttack.
The racket’s alleged mastermind, Anshuman Abhijit Sahu, a resident of Bharatpur in Bhubaneswar, was arrested. Authorities also confiscated ₹25.41 lakh in cash from his possession. Initial investigations suggest the entire racket operated without valid medical prescriptions or legitimate invoices.
Officials confirmed that codeine phosphate syrup, which should only be sold with a doctor’s prescription, was being distributed unlawfully in bulk quantities. Drug Inspectors warned that such syrups, when consumed without medical advice, can be highly addictive and severely damaging to health.
While the seized consignments were found in Bhubaneswar and Cuttack, authorities suspect a wider inter-state distribution network, possibly spanning other regions of Odisha. Intelligence inputs are being collected to identify additional players involved in the racket, including sources, routes, and buyers.
Crime Branch DG confirmed that further investigation is underway to unearth the full extent of the trafficking network. Authorities are also examining the role of courier companies that facilitated these illegal shipments without proper verification.
