Synopsis
The Vadodara SOG has successfully seized illegal cough syrup worth Rs 5.78 lakh during a recent raid, arresting two suspects involved in drug trafficking. This incident highlights ongoing issues with the misuse of codeine-based medications in the region.Key Takeaways
- Special Operations Group (SOG) conducted a raid in Vadodara.
- Seized cough syrup worth Rs 5.78 lakh.
- Two suspects apprehended during the operation.
- Previous NDPS case against one of the suspects.
- Ongoing concerns over misuse of codeine-based medications in Gujarat.
Vadodara, March 15 (NationPress) In a significant operation against unlawful drug distribution, the Special Operations Group (SOG) executed a raid on a property in Vadodara, resulting in the confiscation of a large quantity of codeine-based cough syrup valued at Rs 5.78 lakh.
During this operation, two individuals, Vipul Satishbhai Rajput and Keyur Rajput, were detained.
Following a tip-off, the SOG team targeted a location at Ratilal Park near Kaladarshan Crossroad, where the suspects were storing and distributing the illicit substances. Authorities uncovered 2,570 bottles of cough syrup, each containing 100 ml, some with and others without labels. Additional items seized included empty boxes, mobile devices, cash, and a vehicle, culminating in a total estimated value of Rs 7.89 lakh.
An FIR has been lodged against both individuals under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at the Pani Gate police station.
It is important to note that Keyur Rajput has a previous NDPS case pending against him at the Bhalaj police station in Anand.
In recent years, Gujarat has seen numerous major seizures of illegal codeine-based cough syrup, raising alarms about the misuse of such drugs. In June 2018, a collaborative effort by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) and the Food and Drugs Control Administration (FDCA) resulted in the seizure of over 42,000 bottles of Safecod Cough Syrup in Patan.
This operation, valued at around Rs 52 lakh, marked one of the largest confiscations in the state. The syrup, containing codeine phosphate, was found illegally stored in a warehouse near the Rajpur bus stand.
Investigations disclosed that the suspect had obtained the drug from a manufacturer in Himachal Pradesh and had already sold around 12,900 bottles illegally. In September 2020, the FDCA and the State Monitoring Cell of Gujarat Police seized 4,942 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup worth Rs 5.72 lakh in Bavla. The syrups, categorized as Schedule H drugs requiring prescriptions, were being sold in the black market.
This operation revealed stocks in both a warehouse and a residential unit, leading to the arrest of two individuals under the NDPS Act.
Recently, in March 2024, the Local Crime Branch of Morbi police confiscated 90,000 bottles of codeine-laced cough syrup, valued at Rs 1.84 crore. This syrup had been trafficked from Jharkhand and was set for distribution across the Saurashtra region.
