Varanasi Police Arrest Father-Son Duo in Major Codeine Cough Syrup Smuggling Bust
In a significant crackdown on illicit drug trafficking, Varanasi police have arrested a man and his son, who were carrying a combined bounty of Rs 50,000, for their alleged involvement in the illegal smuggling of codeine-based cough syrup. The arrests occurred late Thursday in the Ramnagar area, just four days after authorities forfeited their property valued at Rs 13.53 crore.
Joint Raid Leads to Apprehension of Accused
The operation was conducted through a joint raid by Kotwali police and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) at Tengra Mod. The arrested individuals have been identified as Manoj Yadav, owner of Syndicate Enterprises, and his son Lakshya Yadav. Manoj, a resident of Ausanganj in Jaitpura, is named in the Kotwali case, and First Information Reports (FIRs) have been registered against both him and his son at the Ramnagar police station.
"We are grilling the accused to uncover the full extent of the cough syrup smuggling racket," stated ACP (Kotwali) Vijay Pratap Singh, emphasizing the ongoing interrogation efforts.
Elaborate Smuggling Network Uncovered
Investigations reveal that Manoj Yadav collaborated with Shubham Jaiswal, the mastermind behind the codeine cough syrup smuggling operation. Together, they created fake e-way bills to facilitate the sale of the syrup in Varanasi and eastern regions. The illicit goods were transported using counterfeit bills and GST documents, with Manoj admitting to meeting Shubham through the Saptasagar medicine market.
Manoj invested the proceeds from this illegal trade into his real estate ventures, specifically MSS Infra and LMS Infra Private Limited, where he serves as a director. During interrogation, he disclosed that he purchased and sold lakhs of bottles of cough syrup from Shaily Traders, which is owned by Bhola, Shubham's father.
Widespread Property Forfeiture and Legal Actions
This case is part of a broader probe by Uttar Pradesh authorities into the alleged illegal stocking and supply of regulated codeine-based syrup. Properties worth over Rs 44 crore belonging to Shubham's father—who is currently jailed after his arrest from Kolkata airport in November 2025—and their close aide Manoj Yadav have already been forfeited.
In a related development, on Tuesday, a team from Sonbhadra police forfeited immovable assets worth Rs 4.5 crore in Varanasi, linked to the same codeine cough syrup smuggling case. Additionally, Sonbhadra police have displayed notices at the residences of Shubham and his two close aides—Nishant Kumar Gupta alias Ravi Gupta of Bhadohi and Vijay Gupta of Kabirchaura in Varanasi—urging them to appear before authorities to avoid forfeiture of their movable and immovable properties.
High Demand and Profitability of Codeine Smuggling
Codeine cough syrup is highly sought after as an intoxicant, particularly in West Bengal and Bangladesh, making its smuggling an extremely lucrative enterprise. Officials estimate that the illicit trade runs into hundreds of crores, underscoring the scale of the operation and the urgency of the crackdown.
The arrests and property forfeitures mark a critical step in dismantling this profitable smuggling network, as Uttar Pradesh authorities continue their intensive investigation into the widespread illegal trade of codeine-based products within and beyond the state.
