Chandauli (UP), Jul 23 (PTI) Uttar Pradesh Police on Thursday seized 7,200 bottles of codeine-laced cough syrup and Eskuf syrup worth around Rs 15 lakh from an abandoned truck in Chandauli district, officials said.
PDDU Nagar Deputy Superintendent of Police Arun Kumar Singh said the recovery was made by the Alinagar police after they received a tip-off during a patrol.
Station House Officer Gaganraj Singh was informed around 5 am that a truck parked in suspicious circumstances near the Kori underpass on the Ring Road could be carrying contraband, he said.
Police reached the spot and took possession of the abandoned truck and during a search, they found 36 sacks containing 720 litres of codeine-laced cough syrup in bottles concealed behind 20 sacks of poultry feed, the officer said.
Drug Inspector Chandresh Kumar Dwivedi was called to the spot and, after inspection, confirmed that the recovered cough syrup was being transported illegally, Singh said.
In India, codeine-based formulations are regulated medicines and cannot be sold or distributed without a valid prescription and compliance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
Its unauthorised possession, transportation or sale beyond the permitted framework attracts provisions of the NDPS Act.
Preliminary investigation has identified the registered owner of the truck as Rahul Kumar, a resident of Firozabad district, the police said.
Efforts were underway to ascertain the truck’s origin, destination and the persons involved in the alleged smuggling, they said.
A case has been registered under Sections 8 and 21 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, along with relevant provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and further investigation is underway, police said. PTI COR ABN SHS
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