Over 5300 bottles of fake cough syrup seized, 1 arrested

“In a unique modus operandi, the syrup was found laced with NRx medicine such as Alprazolam and Clonazepam and labelled as Codeine Syrup by putting false labels of reputed companies,” Bali said.

“The accused did not possess any legal documents or license to store or sell such medicines. The entire stock was seized under the NDPS Act, 1985, and one person has been arrested,” Bali said.

Further investigation is underway to track the network involved in this illegal drug trade, they added.

This incident is the latest in a string of similar cases; on July 4, over 700 bottles of Codeine cough syrup were seized in Mumbai’s Malwani area, with two arrests. Codeine cough syrup, a prescription-based medicine is highly addictive and misused by drug addicts.

Read also: Over 700 bottles of Codeine Cough Syrup seized, 2 arrested

In April, the Prohibition and Excise Department, in coordination with the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, busted an illegal network involved in the diversion and sale of Codeine-based cough syrups for abuse in Hyderabad.

Read also: Illegal diversion of codeine cough syrups busted in Hyderabad, 3 arrested

In February, 1,500 bottles of banned cough syrup worth Rs 30 lakh seized by a joint team of GRP and RPF from Agartala railway station and arrest of nine persons was made.