In a significant operation, officials from the Directorate of Drug Control and the Excise Department seized a large quantity of codeine-laced cough syrup and other medicines, arresting two individuals in connection with the illegal trade. The raids took place late Wednesday night in the villages of Sumandi and Arada, located within the Cuttack Sadar police limits.
The arrested individuals are Jayram Sahoo (42), the owner of Krishna Medicine Store in Sumandi, and his associate Prafulla Jena (49) from Arada. Both have been charged under Section 21(c) of the NDPS Act, 1985.
A total of 92 bottles of 100 ml codeine-laced cough syrup were seized from Jayram’s store, while 676 bottles of Astorex cough syrup and 32 types of other medicines, including antibiotics and painkillers, were recovered from Prafulla’s residence.
Assistant Drugs Controller of Cuttack Circle-1, Dharmadev Puhan, explained that Astorex, which contains triprolidine hydrochloride and codeine phosphate, is classified as a narcotic drug due to its abusable properties. Though the syrup has legitimate therapeutic uses, primarily for dry cough in geriatric patients, both accused individuals illegally purchased and sold it for sedative purposes.
The total value of the seized cough syrup is estimated to be around Rs1.45 lakh, and it was procured without invoices, raising questions about its source. Further investigations will be carried out, including contacting Crest Lifesciences Pvt Ltd, the manufacturer, to identify their authorized distributors in Odisha.
In the aftermath of the raid, Jayram’s licensed medicine store has been sealed, and the investigation is ongoing to uncover how the accused obtained the drugs without proper authorization.
