In a significant crackdown on the illicit trade of codeine-based cough syrups, police in Varanasi and Mirzapur have arrested a total of six wanted accused over the weekend. The arrests, made on Saturday and Sunday, include one individual who carried a reward of Rs 25,000 on his head.
Forgery and Fake Invoices Uncovered
The operation began on Saturday when the Varanasi police apprehended two residents of Sarnath: Vishnu Kumar Pandey and Lokesh Agrawal. They were charged with committing forgery and knowingly using forged purchase-sale invoices to facilitate the buying and selling of codeine-based drugs. This action followed a formal complaint submitted by Varanasi drug inspector Junab Ali on December 18. The complaint highlighted the misuse of a drug sale licence issued to the proprietor firm PD Pharma. The licence was allegedly used to sell codeine-containing drugs in the open market for intoxication, bypassing medical consultation and legal formalities.
Shell Companies and Hawala Network Exposed
On Sunday, the investigation deepened with the Rohaniya police arresting three more wanted accused: Swapnil Kesari from Chandauli district, and Dinesh Kumar Yadav and Ashish Yadav from Varanasi district. Investigations revealed a complex financial web. Under the direction of mastermind Shubham Jaiswal, the trio opened three shell pharmaceutical companies: Singh Medicos, Al-Ukba, and SP Pharma.
Their role was to bring hawala money into legal circulation. Cash received via hawala by Shubham Jaiswal was deposited into banks by these accused. The deposited amounts were then funneled through various other firms before ultimately reaching the accounts of Jaiswal's firm, Shelly Traders. Meanwhile, the actual purchase and sale of the codeine cough syrup existed only on paper.
The physical consignments of syrup were stored at hidden locations as per Jaiswal's instructions and then secretly smuggled to Bangladesh, where they were sold at ten times the original price. Cash and fake bills were delivered to Dinesh Yadav and Ashish Yadav by Jaiswal and his assistant, Devesh. Based on these fabricated bills, Swapnil Kesari deposited large sums of cash into various bank accounts on different dates, which were later transferred to Jaiswal's firms.
Interstate Supply Chain and Another Reward Accused Nabbed
During interrogation, the arrested individuals confessed to being involved in medicine trade for several years. They admitted that along with Shubham Jaiswal, they opened three medical agency firms in Chandauli district under fictitious names. They ordered large quantities of New Phensedyl and Escof cough syrup, storing them secretly in Varanasi, Chandauli, and other districts before selling them illicitly.
In a parallel development, the Mirzapur police on Saturday arrested accused Krishna Kumar Yadav, who was wanted with a reward of Rs 25,000. Police stated that Krishna's firm, City Medisales, which was found to be non-operational, had placed orders for a staggering 4.5 lakh bottles of Escof cough syrup from five firms between April 14 and June 26. The supply, delivered in 10 instalments, was conducted only on paper. Despite the firm being defunct, a turnover of Rs 15 crore was discovered in its three bank accounts.
This case originated from an investigation by drug inspector Santosh Patel into the supply of codeine-containing cough syrup, leading to FIRs against four firms. While three accused—Akshat Yadav, Ajit Yadav, and Shivam Dwivedi—were previously arrested, Krishna Kumar Yadav was the fourth, evading capture until now. Chunar circle officer Manjari Rao explained that Krishna, originally from Chandauli, had established his firm in the Hariharpur Mathana area of Jamalpur.
The coordinated raids and arrests have exposed a sophisticated network involved in drug smuggling, document forgery, and money laundering, marking a major victory for the police in the region.
