Varanasi / New Delhi.: In a sudden turn of events has exposed the illegal smuggling of codeine-based cough syrups, widely abused as an intoxicant across northern India. The alleged kingpin, Shubham Jaiswal, managed to escape to Dubai before police could arrest him. Surveillance data accessed by investigators indicates that he travelled from Ranchi to Kolkata on November 5, and then took a flight overseas.
The accused, a resident of Kaisthan–Prahlad Ghat (Varanasi), is said to have built a well-organised trafficking network using fake pharmaceutical companies and hidden warehouses. According to officials, he operated large storage units in Ghaziabad and Varanasi, from where illegal consignments were pushed to Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, West Bengal, Bihar — and even Nepal.
Case explodes after ₹3.5 crore consignment seized
The racket first came to light on October 19 when Sonbhadra Police intercepted two container trucks and uncovered cough syrup bottles worth ₹3.5 crore. Over 1.20 lakh bottles were concealed under packets of chips and snacks.
Preliminary questioning revealed that the consignment had been dispatched through a firm linked to Shubham, and loaded from a warehouse in Ghaziabad with the help of associate Asif Wasim. Soon after, on November 4, Ghaziabad Police raided another facility and recovered 1,150 cartons of the same cough syrup, arresting eight handlers. But by then, Shubham and Asif had gone underground.
Varanasi Police probing a racket worth over ₹100 crore
On November 15, Varanasi Drug Inspector Junab Ali filed an FIR against: Shubham Jaiswal, His father Bhola Prasad, 26 pharmaceutical traders. The complaint cited: 89 lakh bottles suspected to have been purchased illegally. A racket worth over ₹100 crore in non-medical drug diversion. Given the scale of operations, Police Commissioner Mohit Aggarwal set up a three-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) under IPS officer Saravanan T on November 17.
More seizures: Massive stock recovered from gym basement
Late November 19, a joint operation by the SIT and Anti-Narcotics Task Force yielded 93,750 bottles of codeine syrup from the basement of a gym in Rohania, Varanasi. The seized consignment also traced back to Shubham’s network.
The investigation so far confirms: 126 drug firms under scanner. A strong “Purvanchal Nexus” across Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Sonbhadra, Ghazipur and Chandauli
Focus now on tracing the supply chain
SIT chief Saravanan T said the goal is to unmask every link:
“Our objective is to identify the source points feeding this illegal supply chain. Every layer of the network is being examined.”
Technical teams are analysing financial trails, communication data, mobile location history and digital footprints of the accused. There is suspicion of links to hawala and money laundering networks.
Why codeine syrup fuels a booming narcotics trade
| Factor | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| Easily available and cheap | Attracts young addicts in large numbers |
| High profit margins | Smuggling expands rapidly across states |
| Convenient packaging | Can be hidden inside general cargo |
Officials say each bottle purchased legitimately for ₹50–₹60 is sold in the black market for ₹300–₹400 — turning cough syrup into a high-profit narcotic commodity.
Kingpin escaped but the crackdown has only begun
Despite the escape, investigators are confident:
- Key associates will be arrested soon
- Shell companies that facilitated procurement will be exposed
- Global links of the network will be mapped
Agencies are coordinating with national and international bodies and may seek Interpol assistance to track Shubham’s movement in Dubai — where he reportedly has contacts capable of widening the trafficking trail beyond India.
