Lucknow: In one of the largest actions to date against the illegal trade of codeine-based cough syrups and NRx (narcotic) category medicines, the Uttar Pradesh Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has launched a massive statewide crackdown. The drive, carried out under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyan, uncovered extensive illegal storage, sales without prescription, and a widespread inter-state supply chain involved in diverting these medicines for non-medical use.
According to officials, FIRs have been filed against 98 operators and firms across several districts, including Varanasi, Jaunpur, Lucknow, and Kanpur. The FSDA found that codeine-based cough syrups were being diverted from medical stores and illegally sold as intoxicants without proper documentation or records.
Supply Chain Network Exposed
During inspections conducted between November 28 and 29, the Drug Control Department identified 11 establishments across six districts connected to the supply chains of Abbott Healthcare, Laborate Pharmaceuticals, and Three-B Healthcare. These establishments were found involved in illegal sale and storage of narcotic medicines. Cases have been registered under the NDPS Act and BNS 2023.
Firms facing action include:
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Jaunpur: Vanya Enterprise (Vishat Upadhyay), Akash Medical Store (Akash Maurya), Manish Medical Store (Arun Sonkar), Shivam Medical Store (Shivam Kumar Maurya)
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Bhadohi: Rajendra & Sons (Anshik Gupta), Dileep Medical Store (Dileep Kumar)
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Sonbhadra: Maa Kripa Medical Store (Satyam Kumar), Shivishk Pharma (Vijay Gupta)
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Lakhimpur Kheri: Piyush Medical Agency (Saroj Kumar Mishra)
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Prayagraj: M.K. Healthcare (Mohd. Saif)
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Bahraich: An unnamed illegal medical store (Neeraj Kumar Dixit)
98 FIRs Statewide; Varanasi Tops List
Under the statewide operation, a total of 98 FIRs has been registered so far. District-wise numbers include:
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Varanasi: 28 cases
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Jaunpur: 16 cases
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Kanpur Nagar: 8 cases
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Lakhimpur Kheri: 4 cases
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Lucknow: 3 cases
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Other districts (Rae Bareli, Chandauli, Sultanpur, Ghazipur, etc.): 39 cases
Strict Monitoring Ordered
The state government has directed all District Magistrates to maintain strict surveillance over the purchase and sale of narcotic and codeine-based medicines to ensure their use remains limited to legitimate medical requirements.
The crackdown comes amid rising concerns over misuse of cough syrups and narcotic medicines, which authorities say are being increasingly used as addictive substances by illegal networks.