Banda: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF), in a joint operation with Bisanda Police, has busted an organised gang allegedly involved in the trafficking of codeine-based syrup. Four people were arrested after a team intercepted a DCM truck near the northern roundabout of the Bundelkhand Expressway on the Bisanda-Atarra road. A car allegedly escorting the truck was also seized.
According to police, a search of the DCM led to the recovery of 30,000 bottles of codeine-based syrup packed in 250 cartons. Each bottle had a capacity of 100 ml, taking the total quantity to around 3,000 litres. The estimated market value of the seized syrup is around ₹60.45 lakh.
Investigators suspect that the consignment was not intended for legitimate medical distribution but was being transported for sale through the illegal narcotics network.
Consignment Allegedly Brought From New Delhi
During questioning, the arrested suspects allegedly told investigators that the consignment had been brought from New Delhi. Instead of supplying the syrup through regular medical channels, the gang allegedly sold it at higher prices to people involved in the illegal narcotics trade.
Investigators also found that the gang allegedly manipulated the packaging and transport documents to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies. The accused reportedly changed the original labels on the syrup bottles and prepared forged and fabricated documents.
The altered packaging and documents were allegedly intended to make the consignment appear to be part of a legitimate pharmaceutical supply chain and reduce the chances of the shipment being intercepted during checking.
Escort Car Was Following the DCM
The investigation has also revealed the alleged role of an escort vehicle in the transportation network. A car was travelling with the DCM carrying the syrup and was allegedly being used to monitor the route and keep watch for police checks.
According to the investigation, people travelling in the car were allegedly responsible for monitoring the movement of the consignment and alerting the truck crew to potential checks, allowing the DCM to proceed without interruption.
The DCM driver was allegedly promised an additional payment of ₹25,000 for safely delivering the consignment to its destination.
The entire shipment was allegedly meant to be distributed among narcotics dealers in Banda and Atarra, as well as Chitrakoot and districts bordering Madhya Pradesh.
Four Arrested, One Suspect Wanted
The four people arrested during the operation have been identified as Dhirendra, a resident of Nahar Purwa in Bisanda; Praveen alias Lucky of Atarra; Rohit of Atarra; and Shekhar, the DCM driver from Hapur.
During interrogation, investigators also came across the name of Priyanshu alias Kishan, who lives near Kushwaha Marriage Hall in Atarra. Police allege that he had arranged the consignment. He has been declared wanted and efforts are underway to trace him.
Investigators are now trying to establish who supplied the codeine-based syrup in New Delhi and identify the intended recipients in Banda, Chitrakoot and districts along the Madhya Pradesh border.
The police are also examining the roles of the alleged supplier, intended recipients and other members of the network.
Drug Department Collects Samples
Drug Inspector Divya Prakash Maurya reached the spot after the seizure and collected samples of the recovered codeine-based syrup. The samples were sealed and sent for examination.
The testing is expected to help establish the composition of the seized syrup and the quantity of the relevant pharmaceutical ingredient present in it.
Police have seized both the DCM and the escort car. The recovered syrup, vehicles, documents and other material linked to the accused have been taken into the investigation.
Probe Expanded to Trace Entire Network
A case has been registered at Bisanda Police Station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act.
Investigators are now examining the entire supply chain, including the source of the consignment, the people involved in preparing forged documents and the network responsible for distributing the syrup to illegal narcotics dealers.
Police are also trying to determine whether the gang had transported similar consignments in the past and identify the districts where such supplies may have been delivered.
The arrested suspects, seized vehicles and documents are expected to provide further leads as investigators work to identify additional members of the network and establish the full extent of the alleged trafficking operation.
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About the author — Suvedita Nath is a science student with a growing interest in cybercrime and digital safety. She writes on online activity, cyber threats, and technology-driven risks. Her work focuses on clarity, accuracy, and public awareness.
