Varanasi Police Confiscate Rs 30.52 Crore in Assets Linked to Codeine Cough Syrup Syndicate
In a significant crackdown on illicit drug trade networks, the Rohania police in Varanasi executed a major asset forfeiture operation on Sunday, targeting properties associated with the notorious codeine cough syrup syndicate. The action resulted in the seizure of movable and immovable assets valued at a staggering Rs 30.52 crore from Bhola Prasad Jaiswal, the incarcerated father of alleged syndicate kingpin Shubham Jaiswal.
Legal Action Under SAFEMA Leads to Comprehensive Seizure
Assistant Commissioner of Police (ACP) Sanjeev Kumar Sharma of Rohaniya confirmed that the forfeiture was carried out under the stringent provisions of the Smugglers and Foreign Exchange Manipulators (Forfeiture of Property) Act, 1976 (SAFEMA). This legal framework empowers authorities to confiscate properties acquired through illegal means, ensuring that crime does not pay.
The total value of the seized assets amounts to Rs 30,52,26,944, encompassing both movable and immovable properties. The operation specifically targeted eight immovable properties across Varanasi district, alongside freezing debit facilities in three bank accounts to prevent any further financial transactions.
Detailed Breakdown of Forfeited Properties
The forfeiture process commenced at Bhola Prasad Jaiswal's opulent residence in Tulsipur, Bhelupur, valued at approximately Rs 23 crore. This property is registered under his name and Shaili Traders, a company linked to the illicit activities.
Following this, police authorities moved to confiscate three plots located in Jagdishpur Koilasla, with individual valuations of Rs 43,02,540, Rs 57,13,400, and Rs 43,51,182. Additionally, a plot worth Rs 71 lakh in Bharlaai Shivpur was seized as part of the coordinated effort.
The operation extended to properties registered under family members, including a Rs 1.15-crore plot in Madauli and a Rs 1.98-crore residential building in Jagatganj Ramkatora, both held in the name of his wife, Sharda Jaiswal. A jointly owned home in Habibpura Lallapura, valued at Rs 1.05 crore and registered to his wife and daughter, was also forfeited, completing the comprehensive seizure of all identified assets.
Bank Accounts Frozen and Legal Notices Served
ACP Sharma detailed that the legal procedures to freeze debit facilities in three Indian Bank accounts were successfully concluded. These accounts contained substantial sums of Rs 58,21,486, Rs 1,38,336.99, and Rs 60,00,000, further crippling the financial operations of the syndicate.
Bhola Prasad Jaiswal, currently imprisoned in Sonbhadra jail, was formally served notices regarding all actions undertaken on Sunday by Varanasi police. This ensures due process and legal transparency in the forfeiture proceedings.
Connection to Broader Investigations and Syndicate Activities
The Sunday operation follows prior actions by Sonbhadra police, who attached properties worth over Rs 28 crore belonging to Bhola Prasad Jaiswal on Friday. Authorities noted that many properties targeted in both Varanasi and Sonbhadra police actions overlap, indicating a coordinated effort across jurisdictions.
Shubham Jaiswal, the alleged mastermind behind the codeine cough syrup syndicate, remains at large with a red corner notice issued against him. His gang is implicated in multiple criminal cases, with Sunday's asset forfeiture directly stemming from the ongoing investigation into the codeine cough syrup case registered at Rohania police station.
The probe gained momentum following a massive seizure of Fensedyl, a codeine-based cough syrup, which traced the supply chain back to Abbott Company and its proprietor, Prasad, who owns Shaili Traders. Company records provided concrete evidence linking these properties to illicit earnings from the drug trade.
ACP Sharma emphasized that the investigation conclusively demonstrated that all forfeited assets were purchased using proceeds from illegal activities, underscoring the commitment of law enforcement to dismantle organized crime networks and recover ill-gotten gains.
