Bhadrak, Feb 5: In a joint operation, the Drugs Squad and Bhadrak Police seized 840 bottles of banned cough syrup from a local medical shop in Basudebpur market on Wednesday. The contraband, valued at over ₹1.5 lakh, was being sold illegally, prompting authorities to arrest one individual involved in the illegal trade.
The cough syrup was found stored in seven boxes, each containing 120 bottles. Authorities acted on a tip-off and recovered the entire consignment from the shop, which was allegedly involved in the illicit sale of the prohibited substance.
“We have recovered seven boxes of illegal cough syrup, with each box containing 120 bottles, totalling 840 bottles,” said Basudebpur Excise Inspector Madhusudan Sahu.
The arrested individual is being questioned, and further investigations are underway to identify and apprehend any other individuals connected to the racket.
This seizure follows another similar operation in the Bolangir district, where police dismantled an illegal cough syrup trafficking network in the Chudapalli area. Authorities seized 50 bottles of prohibited cough syrup and arrested three individuals after acting on specific intelligence inputs.
These repeated incidents of illegal cough syrup trafficking highlight the growing concern over the misuse of medicinal drugs in Odisha. Experts and authorities are calling for stricter monitoring and enforcement to curb the illegal sale and distribution of such substances.
