Archive · 4 Sep 2026
UP STF busts interstate codeine syrup network, seizes 30,000 bottles
Police in Uttar Pradesh say they stopped a group accused of illegally moving cough syrup containing codeine.
They arrested four people in Banda district.
Police say they found about 30,000 bottles in a car and a delivery vehicle.
The bottles were estimated to be worth nearly Rs 3 crore.
Investigators said the group brought the syrup from Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh.
They allegedly sold it illegally in parts of several states instead of supplying medical stores.
Police also alleged that the group changed labels and used false tax invoices.
In a separate case, another police unit arrested a man with heroin worth about Rs 80 lakh.
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force arrested four people in Banda over alleged illegal codeine syrup trafficking.
Officials said about 30,000 bottles worth nearly Rs 3 crore were recovered from two intercepted vehicles.
The alleged network sourced consignments from Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh for distribution across several states.
Investigators said the gang relabelled the syrup, sold it through the illegal narcotics market and used allegedly fake GST invoices.
In a separate operation, the Anti Narcotics Task Force arrested a man in Sonbhadra with heroin valued at about Rs 80 lakh.
- Who
- The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force arrested Dhirendra Kumar, Praveen Kumar alias Lucky, Rohit Pandey and Shekhar Singh; a separate Anti Narcotics Task Force unit arrested Himanshu Gautam.
- What
- Authorities allegedly dismantled an interstate codeine cough-syrup trafficking network, recovering about 30,000 bottles, and separately seized heroin.
- When
- The four arrests were made on Thursday; the articles do not specify the date.
- Where
- The codeine arrests occurred in Banda district near the Bundelkhand Expressway; the separate heroin arrest occurred in Sonbhadra district.
- Why
- Officials said the suspects were allegedly trafficking codeine syrup through the illegal narcotics market, changing product labels and using allegedly fraudulent GST invoices.
Law-enforcement allegations
Accused position
Nature of the operation
Law-enforcement allegations
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force said the four suspects were involved in interstate trafficking of codeine-based cough syrup and supplied the illegal narcotics market.
Accused position
The articles do not report any response, denial or alternative account from the arrested suspects.
Business practices
Law-enforcement allegations
Investigators alleged that the gang changed product labels, charged higher prices and used fake invoices linked to a medical agency and a reportedly bogus firm.
Accused position
The articles provide no statement from the suspects or the companies named in connection with these allegations.
- Codeine syrup recovered
- Around 30,000 bottles
- Estimated syrup value
- Nearly Rs 3 crore
- Codeine case arrests
- Four people
- Alleged supply sources
- Delhi, Haryana and Chandigarh
- Alleged distribution areas
- Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand and Madhya Pradesh
- Heroin recovered separately
- Heroin valued at around Rs 80 lakh
- Vehicles intercepted
- A red Tata Nexon car and a DCM vehicle