STF, Drug Control Team Bust Illegal Codeine Supply Chain, 8,520 Bottles Seized in Cuttack
New Delhi: In a major crackdown on illegal drug trafficking, a joint team of the Directorate of Drugs Control and the Special Task Force (STF) seized 8,520 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup from a logistics vehicle in Cuttack, Odisha, after intercepting a consignment suspected to be part of an interstate drug network supplying banned pharmaceutical products across the state.
Acting on specific intelligence inputs, officials intercepted a vehicle belonging to a logistics company at Phulnakhara under Cuttack Sadar police station limits. During the search, authorities recovered 71 cartons containing 8,520 bottles of Recron-T cough syrup, a formulation containing codeine that is often misused.
Preliminary investigation revealed that the seized consignment was being transported from Ahmedabad to Bhubaneswar, with indications that a significant portion was meant for further distribution to areas including Balasore district.
Officials suspect the involvement of an organised interstate network engaged in the illegal trade of such medicines, and a detailed probe has been launched to trace the supply chain and identify those involved.
The operation was carried out in the presence of several officials, including Additional Tahsildar Sharmishtha Das, STF DSP Pradeep Raut, DSP Manas Das, Inspector Jitu Besra, drug inspectors Chandan Giri, Chinmay Jena, Ananya Aich, Rozalin Samal, Sangeeta Pattnaik, and Assistant Drug Controller Prabesh Lenka.
The seizure highlights continued enforcement efforts to curb misuse and illegal distribution of codeine-based drugs, which pose serious public health risks, according to a recent media report in OMMCOM News.
Authorities have reiterated their commitment to dismantling drug trafficking networks and taking strict action against those involved in illegal pharmaceutical activities.
