The Uttar Pradesh Police Special Task Force (STF) on Tuesday arrested dismissed police constable Alok Pratap Singh, a key accused in a sprawling network involved in trafficking cough syrup and other codeine-based medicines across multiple states and even smuggling them to Bangladesh, officials confirmed.
Police said Alok Pratap’s name surfaced during the interrogation of Amit Kumar Singh alias Amit Tata, who was arrested last Thursday in Lucknow, exposing a sophisticated illegal supply chain operating through associates of two wholesale pharmaceutical units — one in Uttar Pradesh and another in Jharkhand.
According to sources, Alok was taken into custody while allegedly heading to court to surrender.
Authorities are now seeking his remand for further questioning as the investigation deepens.
Cross-Border Drug Network Under Scanner
The STF continues extensive raids to locate prime accused Shubham Jaiswal, believed to have escaped abroad.
In a key development, Sonbhadra police arrested his father, Bhola Prasad, in West Bengal.
The racket came into focus after the UP government in February last year formed a joint investigation team comprising the STF and the Food Safety & Drug Administration, amid growing evidence that codeine-based cough syrups were being stored illegally, repackaged and sold as narcotics.
These addictive formulations were allegedly routed to Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, Assam, West Bengal, and smuggled across the border into Bangladesh—raising serious national security and public health concerns.
Eight arrests have been made so far.
An FIR was registered at Sushant Golf City Police Station in Lucknow under charges of cheating, forgery, criminal conspiracy, and other offences after large quantities of cough syrup were seized.
Fake Firms, Forged Documents and Massive Profits
During interrogation, Alok revealed he was introduced to Jaiswal by Vikas Singh of Azamgarh.
He admitted he was lured by the promise of massive profits as the syrup was widely abused recreationally in eastern states and Bangladesh.
Police said that through Singh, a fake pharmaceutical firm was set up in Dhanbad, and numerous fraudulent invoices, e-bills, certificates, and affidavits were generated to obtain drug licences. None of the accused had any real experience in the medical or pharma sector.
The illegally diverted stock was sold to traffickers for huge financial gains, making the racket a highly lucrative criminal enterprise.
A Growing Threat Requiring Vigilance
Officials have stressed that the illegal drug trade poses a grave challenge to law enforcement, public health and national security.
Codeine addiction has destroyed countless lives, especially among youth.
Authorities emphasised that constant monitoring, strict enforcement, and swift arrests are essential to curb this escalating menace.
Nabbing every individual involved is critical to dismantling the network and protecting society,” an officer said.
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