Over 10k cough syrup bottles seized
NEW DELHI: Over 10,000 cough syrup bottles, meant to be supplied as an alternative to alcohol in dry Indian states and in Bangladesh, have been recovered from a container in south Delhi, police said on Wednesday. The bottles were hidden in cartons with pictures of electric gadgets.
Bhisham Singh, DCP (crime), identified the cough syrup as ‘Phensedyl’. “It contains Codeine Phosphate, a narcotic drug that is addictive if taken in large quantities,” said the officer. The maximum retail price of a 100 ml bottle is a little over ₹125, but sells for as high as ₹900 when sold as a substitute to alcohol, he said.
The consignment of 10,600 bottles was seized in Okhla on Monday after the crime branch received a tip-off. “The bottles were concealed under electronic items being transported in a container,” said the officer.
Phensedyl has ingredients such as codeine and dextropropoxyphene, which can be abused as they produce relaxation, euphoria and dissociative effects, when consumed in high doses. Being a schedule H category drug, under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, one can buy it only through a prescription of a registered medical practitioner. Also the pharmacist has to ensure that only the prescribed amount is sold and they are advised to note the records or prescription so that it is not shared.
The alleged kingpin in the gang, 49-year-old Ajay Kumar, would allegedly procure Phensedyl from chemists in Delhi, Ghaziabad and Agra. He would store the bottles in Okhla before sending them to his contact in West Bengal. Kumar was arrested along with his associates, Fantoosh Yadav and Mukesh. Yadav would allegedly help transport the cough syrup bottles from Delhi to Bengal. Mukesh was allegedly an expert in packing the bottles and camouflaging them with other goods.
The gang allegedly sent at least five consignments of over 10,000 bottles every month, police said. Apart from the neighbouring Bangladesh, the gang allegedly found large number of buyers in Bihar and Nagaland, Singh said.
The police have identified some of the many chemists from where the gang allegedly bought the syrup in large quantities. One of them is based in north Delhi’s Model Town. Police said they are now searching for other sources.
MARIJUANA, ALCOHOL SEIZED IN TIHAR
In a raid conducted in the semiopen jail building inside Tihar jail last week, jail officials seized prohibited items such as marijuana, alcohol and cash. The complex inside the jail headquarters was started in 2013 and only prisoners with over 12 years in jail and a clean record during their prison stay are lodged in this jail.
Sources said the prohibited items were found in the walls and the dormitory. Director General ( prisons) Ajay Kashyap confirmed the raid.