Ch. Sambhajinagar, Feb 5 (UNI) The Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar City Crime Branch has busted an illegal racket in the stocking and sale of intoxicating cough syrup and seized contraband and valuables collectively worth Rs 12.46 lakh, an official said on Thursday.
Five persons have been arrested in the case, while seven others have been named as wanted accused. Crime Branch Inspector Gajanan Kalyankar said the action was taken following a tip-off received on Tuesday prompting a raid at the residence of the prime accused, Ubaidullah Abdullah (32), a resident of Rehmaniya Colony in Kiradpura.
During the search, police recovered a large consignment of cough syrup containing codeine phosphate and triprolidine hydrochloride, substances commonly misused for their narcotic effects. The seizure included 3,000 sealed bottles of CODYLINE cough syrup, each of 100 ml, valued at approximately Rs 12 lakh at the market rate of Rs 400 per bottle.
In addition to the contraband, police also seized Rs 1,700 in cash and four mobile phones valued at Rs 45,000, taking the total value of the seizure to Rs 12,46,700.
The arrested accused have been identified as Sheikh Sofiyan Shaikh Nazir (34), Abdul Naveed Khan Abdul Samee Khan (31), Shaikh Naved Shaikh Hamid (25), and Shaikh Ayyaz alias Sheru Shaikh Siraj (42), all residents of different localities in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Assistant Commissioner of Police (Crime) Ashok Rajput said preliminary investigation revealed that the cough syrup consignment had been procured from Gujarat and had earlier been supplied to several individuals in the Shah Bazaar area. He added that efforts were underway to trace and arrest the remaining wanted accused.
Police Commissioner Pravin Pawar said the city police were consistently implementing a special anti-drugs campaign and asserted that such operations would continue in the future.
A case has been registered at the Jinsi police station under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, and the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, based on a complaint filed by Crime Branch Sub-Inspector Abhijeet Chikhalkar. Further investigation is being conducted by Sub-Inspector Sandeep Kale.
