Raids, Suspensions and Arrests: How UP Became a Hub for Codeine Syrup Trafficking

Raids, Suspensions and Arrests: How UP Became a Hub for Codeine Syrup Trafficking

Fresh findings in Uttar Pradesh’s illegal codeine-based cough syrup trade have put the state’s Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) under intense scrutiny. Investigators have identified suspected involvement of departmental officials, with at least five assistant commissioners and several drug inspectors likely to face action. The probe has revealed an extensive trafficking network stretching across multiple UP districts and connecting directly with smuggling routes into Nepal and Bangladesh.

Evidence Points to Departmental Involvement

The FSDA began its inquiry from Lucknow on October 10, but what started as a routine review quickly exposed deeper irregularities. After a major codeine recovery in Kanpur, both the assistant commissioner and drug inspector posted there were removed from their positions and shifted to the state headquarters. Sources say similar evidence has surfaced against officers previously posted in Varanasi and Agra, raising concerns over official complicity in enabling large-scale diversion of pharmaceutical consignments.

Trafficking Network Linked to Nepal–Bangladesh Routes

According to investigators, major UP cities were being used as consolidation and transit hubs to dispatch codeine syrup to organised smuggling groups operating in Nepal and Bangladesh. The contraband, misused as a narcotic substance, moved through well-coordinated channels. Interrogations and recovered documents suggest that certain compromised officials may have played a role in shielding the logistics of these networks from regulatory oversight.

Border-District Inspectors Under Surveillance

With the investigation widening, internal review teams have now turned their attention to drug inspectors posted in sensitive border districts, including Chandauli, Bhadohi, Mirzapur, Sonbhadra, Ghazipur, Ballia, Siddharthnagar, Maharajganj, Chitrakoot and Lalitpur. Officers stationed in these regions are being examined for potential links to transporters, distributors and syndicate members known to be involved in illicit codeine diversion.

Two Key Businessmen Arrested in Kolkata

In a coordinated crackdown, the SIT arrested Prateek Mishra of Nishant Pharma and Vishal Sonkar of Vishwanath Medical Agency from Kolkata. Both are understood to be close associates of wanted trafficker Shubham Jaiswal. Investigators allege they purchased nearly 10 lakh bottles of codeine syrup valued at ₹15 crore from Shaili Traders in Jharkhand. Despite massive financial activity, neither firm maintained any legitimate sales records, according to DCP (Kashi Zone) Gaurav Banswal.

More Traders and Firms Under Investigation

The list of individuals under scrutiny continues to grow. Those linked to Jaiswal’s network - including Tushar Agarwal, Manoj Yadav, Neeraj Singh, Rajiv Yadav, Rishabh Yadav, Mahesh Lalvani, Dharmendra Agarwal, Prashant Upadhyay, Sachin Pandey, Ghanshyam, Abhinav Yadav, Rahul Jaiswal, Himanshu Chaturvedi, Pooja Tiwari and Akash Pathak—remain on the police radar.

So far, FIRs have been registered against 38 firms, with investigators expecting the number to rise as banking trails, stock records and communication logs are analysed.

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