The Lucknow zonal unit of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) has escalated its legal action against Shubham Jaiswal, the alleged mastermind behind a widespread codeine-based cough syrup smuggling and money laundering network. The agency has warned him of seeking a Non-Bailable Warrant (NBW) after he failed to appear for questioning despite a final summons issued on Monday.
ED's Stern Warning and Planned International Action
Senior ED officials stated that with Jaiswal ignoring the final summons, the agency is now compelled to take stricter measures. The next step involves moving the competent court to obtain an NBW against him. Furthermore, the ED is initiating the process to secure a Red Corner Notice against Jaiswal through Interpol, which would seek his detention abroad for extradition.
The foundation of the ED's case rests on 24 separate FIRs registered over the last year by the Uttar Pradesh Police, the Special Task Force (STF), and the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA). These police complaints detail a large-scale illegal operation involving the seizure of illicit, adulterated, and mislabelled codeine cough syrups, the arrest of carriers, and the discovery of forged documents.
Unraveling the Network: Fake Invoices and Illegal Transport
Investigations have peeled back the layers of this sophisticated racket. It is alleged that Shubham Jaiswal played a central role in creating fake GST invoices and manipulating stock and sale registers to conceal the illegal movement of consignments. The syrups, meant strictly for medicinal purposes, were allegedly diverted into the illicit market for substance abuse.
The probe revealed that the consignments were routed through unregistered transporters specializing in pharmaceutical cargo, further obscuring the trail. This network allowed large quantities of the addictive syrup to be distributed across various districts and even beyond state borders.
Pharmaceutical Firms Under Scanner for Alleged Diversion
In a related development, the ED has also issued summons to Manohar Jaiswal, the owner of Aarpik Pharmaceuticals Private Limited and its sister concern Idhika Life Sciences. These companies, with operations in Lucknow and Ahmedabad, are under scrutiny for allegedly serving as key channels in the illegal distribution network.
According to the ED and FSDA, these firms were used to divert massive quantities of codeine-based cough syrups from legitimate medicinal supply chains into the black market. FSDA officials confirmed that the investigation points to the direct involvement of these two Lucknow-based companies in the unlawful manufacturing, supply, and diversion of the syrup through fake billing and illegal distribution chains.
The crackdown highlights a concerted effort by central and state agencies to dismantle a dangerous racket that fuels substance abuse by misusing pharmaceutical products, posing a significant public health threat.
