Vadodara SOG Busts Codeine Cough Syrup Racket, Seizes Rs 25.54 Lakh Worth of Contraband

Updated: March 16, 2024, 1:18 IST By: Uploader

Special Operations Group (SOG) of Vadodara in Gujarat on Thursday seized a large quantity of Codeine-based cough syrup bottles and Tramadol capsules from a godown. The total value of the seized drugs is estimated at Rs 25.54 lakh.

The SOG officials were acting on a tip-off and arrived at the residences of the accused, Vipul Rajput and Keyur Rajput, in the morning.

During the searches, the SOG sleuths recovered codeine-based cough syrup to the tune of Rs 7.89 lakh and placed both the accused under arrest.

After obtaining a six-day remand of the accused, the SOG officials pressed them further. During interrogation, the accused disclosed information about a rented godown where they had allegedly stashed a larger quantity of illicit drugs.

Based on this information, the SOG team raided the godown, which is located at Palm Exotica near Shri Por Timbi village in Waghodia on Thursday.

The SOG officials discovered a massive cache of illegal codeine syrup and Tramadol capsules, with an aggregate value of Rs 25.54 lakh. The godown was reportedly rented just eight days ago.

Further investigation by the SOG is underway to ascertain the source of the contraband and its intended recipients.

It is noteworthy that Vipul Rajput is the owner of ‘Auckland Pharmacy’, while Keyur Rajput runs ‘Maa Medical Store’. The duo used to collect the illegal stock at Vipul’s residence and sell it to addicts.

To avoid detection, they would deliver the drugs on two-wheelers and used to put new labels on the medicine bottles.

The police are examining the supply chain and are searching for other accomplices who may be involved in this illegal drug racket.

Recently, Gujarat has seen a series of large-scale seizures of illegal codeine-based cough syrups.

In June 2018, a joint operation by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Gujarat Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) resulted in the confiscation of more than 42,000 bottles of Safecod Cough Syrup containing codeine phosphate. The biggest haul was made at a godown near the Rajpur bus stand in Patan, where 37,198 bottles were found.

Officials said the suspect was allegedly buying the drug from a manufacturer in Himachal Pradesh and distributing it illegally in Gujarat.

In September 2020, another operation by the FDCA and the State Monitoring Cell of Gujarat Police led to the recovery of 4,942 bottles of codeine-infused cough syrups in Bavla. Valued at ₹5.72 lakh, these Schedule H drugs were being sold without prescriptions. The primary suspect, a former medical store owner whose licence had been previously revoked for similar offences, was found illegally stockpiling and selling these syrups.

Recently, in March 2024, the Local Crime Branch of Morbi Police seized 90,000 bottles of codeine-laced cough syrup in Morbi. The total value of the seized cough syrup is estimated at Rs 1.84 crore.

The syrups, trafficked from Jharkhand to Gujarat, were concealed within rice bags, and were intended for distribution across the Saurashtra region. Three individuals were arrested, while three others are still at large.