Bijnor,

20 Dec (HS): Three men have been detained in Bijnor district for the unlawful

sale and non-medical use of codeine-laced cough syrup, as part of an ongoing investigation

on an alleged codeine syrup scam across UP, police said on Saturday. According

to Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Krishna Gopal Singh, the arrests

were made in response to a report submitted by drug inspector Umesh Kumar

Bharti on November 23 against Arun, Shivanshu, and Resab, all of whom are

Bijnor residents, for the unauthorized sale and consumption of codeine-laced

syrup.

Following

an investigation, all three suspects were detained on Friday night, according

to the ASP, who also stated that the fight against illicit substances will

continue. Another instance involving the unlawful sale of codeine-laced syrup

is being investigated, and arrests will be made shortly, the officer stated.

The

action stems from a larger investigation into an alleged illicit network in

Uttar Pradesh that stores and distributes highly controlled codeine-laced cough

syrups. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) is looking into drug diversion,

financial transactions, and connections amongst the accused, with authorities

noting evidence of super-stockists and cross-border trafficking to neighbouring

nations like Nepal and Bangladesh.

Hindusthan Samachar / Abhishek Awasthi