75 Arrested in Codeine Cough Syrup Crackdown Across 31 Uttar Pradesh Districts, Says Minister

Shahjahanpur, December 20: At least 75 people have been arrested so far in a large-scale crackdown on the illegal storage and sale of codeine-based cough syrup across Uttar Pradesh, Parliamentary Affairs and Finance Minister Suresh Khanna said on Saturday. The action has been carried out across 31 districts of the state, with authorities registering 74 cases till now. Addressing reporters in Shahjahanpur, Khanna said the drive has led to the recovery of nearly 12.65 lakh bottles of codeine-based cough syrup. He added that action has also been initiated against 132 firms found to be involved in various stages of the illegal trade, including storage, diversion and sale of the banned substance. The minister said the state government is treating the matter seriously due to its impact on public health, particularly on children and young people. He stated that codeine-based cough syrup is often misused as an intoxicant and its illegal circulation poses a major threat to society. Khanna alleged that those arrested so far have links “at some level” with the Samajwadi Party. He claimed that the main conspirators behind the racket had political connections, though he did not provide specific details. The allegation is likely to intensify the political debate surrounding the issue. To probe the case thoroughly, the state government has formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by an officer of the rank of Director General of Police. The SIT has already taken action against 15 key conspirators involved in the racket, while efforts are ongoing to identify and proceed against other accused persons. The minister said look-out circulars (LOCs) have been issued against 12 main accused to prevent them from leaving the country. He added that the process to issue LOCs against more suspects is currently underway, as investigators continue to trace the network behind the illegal trade. Sharing details of the investigation, Khanna said it was found that codeine-based cough syrup manufactured by pharmaceutical companies was not reaching retail medical stores at the local level as intended. Instead, large consignments were being diverted using fake bills and documents. He said the syrup was allegedly rerouted for non-medical use, and investigators suspect that some consignments may have been smuggled across borders into neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Bangladesh. Authorities are examining supply chains and financial records to confirm these routes. The finance minister explained that codeine-based cough syrup falls under Schedule H1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945. Under these rules, such medicines can be sold by retail chemists only on the basis of a valid medical prescription. Retailers are also required to maintain proper records of buyers, including their details, to prevent misuse. Khanna said the violations uncovered during the crackdown show deliberate attempts to bypass these safeguards. He added that strict action would continue against anyone found violating the law, whether manufacturers, distributors or middlemen. He said that on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, Uttar Pradesh Police, in coordination with the Drug Administration Department, has launched a sustained and statewide campaign against the illegal storage, purchase, sale and diversion of codeine-based cough syrup. Reiterating his claims, Khanna said 75 people have been arrested so far and investigations are still ongoing. He stressed that the government will not spare anyone involved in the racket, regardless of their influence or connections. The crackdown comes amid rising concern over the misuse of pharmaceutical drugs and the need for stricter monitoring of controlled medicines. Authorities said further arrests and seizures are likely as the investigation progresses and the SIT digs deeper into the network operating across districts and beyond state borders. 75 Arrested in Codeine Cough Syrup Crackdown Across 31 Uttar Pradesh Districts, Says Minister A major crackdown on the illegal sale and storage of codeine-based cough syrup is underway across Uttar Pradesh, with 75 people arrested so far in 31 districts of the state. Parliamentary Affairs and Finance Minister Suresh Khanna shared the details on Saturday while addressing the media in Shahjahanpur. According to the minister, 74 cases have been registered in connection with the racket, and around 12.65 lakh bottles of codeine cough syrup have been seized during the operation. Action has also been initiated against 132 firms allegedly involved in the illegal storage, diversion and sale of the drug. The minister said the scale of recovery shows how widespread the misuse of the syrup had become. Khanna said a Special Investigation Team has been formed to probe the matter in depth. The SIT is headed by an officer of the rank of Director General of Police and has already taken action against 15 key conspirators. Look-out circulars have been issued against 12 main accused to prevent them from fleeing the country, and steps are being taken to issue similar alerts against other suspects. The minister claimed that investigations revealed the cough syrup supplied by pharmaceutical manufacturers was not reaching local medical stores. Instead, fake bills were allegedly used to divert large consignments for non-medical use, with possible smuggling routes leading to Nepal and Bangladesh. He also alleged that those arrested so far had links “at some level” with the Samajwadi Party, adding a political angle to the case. Khanna reminded that codeine-based cough syrup is listed under Schedule H1 of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules and can only be sold on a valid prescription with proper buyer records. He said the drive, launched on the Chief Minister’s directions, will continue until the entire network is dismantled.