Over 1600 bottles of cough syrup seized in Bhubaneswar, 2 arrested

The Commissionerate Police on Wednesday seized over 1600 bottles of cough syrup while it was being allegedly smuggled into Bhubaneswar. Two persons have been arrested in connection with the incident.

The accused have been identified as Jagannath Jena and Anil Nayak. Senior Police officials informed that both the accused have been doing such illegal trafficking of cough syrup and their criminal antecedents are being verified.

“We got information that some persons are smuggling cough syrup from Kolkata to Bhubaneswar without any valid documents. A team was subsequently deployed at a bus stop near Mancheswar. After necessary discussion with the Drugs Inspector, a case was registered under section 21 B NDPS Act,” said ACP, Gautam Kishan.

As there are not many instances of cough syrup bottles being brought to Bhubaneswar to be used as narcotics, it is suspected that the consignment was meant to be supplied to other parts of the state. Senior police officials said that usually cough syrup is being sold in retail markets and criminals target persons who use them as cheap alternatives to narcotics.

“So far, no details have been received regarding the pharma company manufacturing the particular cough syrup and whether it is banned or not,” Kishan added.