In a significant crackdown on the illegal drug trade, the Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has exposed a sprawling interstate network involved in the illicit supply of codeine-based cough syrup. The operation allegedly involved a dismissed police constable of the STF who is currently absconding.
Key Operative Arrested in Lucknow
The revelations came to light following the arrest of a key operative, Amit Kumar Singh, also known as Amit Tata. He was apprehended on Thursday near Gwari Chauraha in Gomtinagar, Lucknow. Singh is a resident of Varuna Enclave in Varanasi Cantonment and originally hails from Jaunpur.
During interrogation, investigators uncovered that Amit Tata was working closely with the dismissed STF constable. Together, they established a parallel wholesale distribution chain for Fensidyl, a codeine-laced cough syrup widely misused as an intoxicant.
Forged Firms and a Multi-State Network
The absconding former constable used forged documents to register multiple firms, creating a facade of legitimacy. These shell entities were then used to divert bulk pharmaceutical stocks illegally.
The duo operated two wholesale drug units: one based in Jharkhand and another from Varanasi. From these hubs, illegal consignments were systematically routed to several states including Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Uttarakhand, West Bengal, and Assam. The network even extended its reach, with the cough syrup being smuggled into Bangladesh through border couriers.
For months, intelligence units had been tracking unusually large purchases of Fensidyl and similar codeine formulations from wholesale markets in eastern India. The movement pattern was consistent: shipments moved from Jharkhand to Varanasi, then through districts like Jaunpur, Ghazipur, Ballia, and Mirzapur, before heading towards the Bengal-Bangladesh corridor.
Coordinated Crackdown and Ongoing Manhunt
The accused allegedly coordinated with other key handlers identified as Shubham Jaiswal, Varun Singh, Gaurav Jaiswal, and Vishal Mehrotra. Recognizing the scale of the scam, the state government formed a joint STF and Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) panel in February 2024 specifically to map this illicit chain.
Earlier raids had already led to the recovery of huge quantities of illegal cough syrup from various warehouses, pointing to an organized, pharmaceutical-level diversion scam. An FIR has been registered at the Sushant Golf City police station in Lucknow under sections related to forgery, cheating, criminal conspiracy, and destruction of evidence.
While multiple raids have been conducted across Jaunpur, Varanasi, Ghazipur, Ballia, and Mirzapur to trace the dismissed constable, he remains untraceable at this time. The investigation is ongoing as authorities work to dismantle the entire network.
