Massive Seizure: Over 15.7 Lakh Vials of Banned Cough Syrup Worth Rs 3.4 Crore Uncovered in Ghaziabad Operation

Estimated market value of the seized material is approximately Rs 3.4 crore. (Representational)

Ghaziabad:

In a major operation against illegal pharmaceutical trading, Ghaziabad Police and crime branch officials have confiscated over 15.7 lakh vials of prohibited cough syrup. The contraband was discovered hidden inside four trucks at a warehouse located on Delhi-Meerut Road, authorities reported on Wednesday.

The joint operation resulted in eight arrests and was executed by Nandgram Police in collaboration with the crime branch following intelligence shared by Sonbhadra Police, who had previously apprehended another group trafficking similar substances.

Additional Commissioner of Police (Crime) Keshav Kumar Choudhary stated that the raid was conducted at 'Machhli Godown' near Ghookna Mor, where authorities discovered four trucks containing Eskuf, Phensedyl, and Tapentadol. The vehicles were reportedly registered as transporting limestone from Indore to Guwahati.

"We recovered 15,73,500 vials packed within 1,150 cartons from the trucks. The illegal pharmaceuticals were concealed behind gunny bags filled with limestone," Choudhary informed reporters on Tuesday.

He further mentioned that the seized materials have an estimated market value of approximately Rs 3.4 crore.

The official explained that codeine-based cough syrups, originally manufactured for medicinal purposes, are now widely abused as intoxicants.

"Government regulations have prohibited the sale of such syrups, and manufacturers like Abott Pharma at Baddi in Himachal Pradesh discontinued their production of Phensedyl in December 2024," he noted.

The arrested individuals have been identified as Saurav Tyagi (37), Shadab (29), Shiv Kant (32), Santosh Bhadana (32), Ambuj (26), Dharmendra (49), Deepu Yadav (24), and Sushil Yadav (35). Police have identified Tyagi and Bhadana, both transport operators, as the principal orchestrators of the operation.

During questioning, the two allegedly admitted to distributing banned cough syrups across multiple states, including regions within the National Capital Region, and even internationally to Bangladesh.

"Tyagi, who serves as the cashier for the Ghaziabad Chemists and Druggists Association, leveraged his professional connections with pharmaceutical companies to source these syrups. He also operates a medical store in the city," Choudhary revealed.

In addition to the cough syrup consignments, authorities seized Rs 20 lakh in cash, a Creta vehicle, two laptops, seven rubber stamps, ten counterfeit SIM cards, and various forged documents from the accused.

The Additional Commissioner mentioned that investigations are ongoing to dismantle the broader interstate and cross-border network involved in the illegal distribution of banned pharmaceutical products.