A Special Investigation Team (SIT) in Ranchi conducted targeted raids on Tuesday, striking at the heart of an alleged network involved in the illegal trade of cough syrups. The operations focused on three locations within Ranchi district, including the factory premises of Shaili Traders and a residential apartment situated in the Tupudana area.
Documents and Air Gun Seized in Coordinated Raids
Leading the SIT, Ranchi SP (Rural) Praveen Pushkar confirmed that the raids led to the seizure of several potentially incriminating documents. The recovered items included blank cheques and order slips from various shops. Notably, an air gun was also confiscated during the operation. The SIT was constituted by Ranchi SSP Rakesh Ranjan with a specific mandate to probe the unlawful sale of cough syrups across the district.
The team has been directed to gather comprehensive intelligence related to Shaili Traders, scrutinize First Information Reports (FIRs) filed at local police stations following previous syrup seizures, and ensure legal action against all individuals involved.
Link to Earlier Major Seizure and Interstate Network
This latest development is connected to a significant interception earlier. On November 2, the Ranchi police confiscated 13,400 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup, valued at approximately Rs 30 lakh. This seizure occurred during a routine vehicle check at Tangabasli More, under the jurisdiction of Mandar police station.
The operation was initiated based on crucial information provided by the Uttar Pradesh Crime Branch regarding the movement of illegal syrup consignments. Police investigating the Mandar case discovered that the seized bottles originated from Ghaziabad in Uttar Pradesh. Authorities revealed that similar consignments had been distributed to various parts of Jharkhand in the past. Two cases bearing a resemblance have also been registered at the Tupudana police station.
ED's Nationwide Sweep and the Larger Syndicate
The scrutiny on Shaili Traders is not limited to the state police. In a parallel federal action, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) carried out searches at 25 locations across the country on December 12 and 13. One of the premises raided was the factory of Shaili Traders in Ranchi.
The ED stated that its operations were grounded in FIRs filed against a suspected criminal syndicate. This network is allegedly engaged in the illegal procurement, storage, diversion, and sale of codeine-based syrups for non-medical and narcotic purposes, highlighting the serious national scale of the issue.
The coordinated efforts by the SIT, district police, and federal agencies like the ED underscore a determined crackdown on the illicit trade of prescription cough syrups, a trade with serious public health and law enforcement implications.
