Major Crackdown on Codeine Cough Syrup Smuggling Syndicate in Varanasi
In a significant law enforcement operation, a special investigation team has dismantled a key segment of a notorious codeine cough syrup smuggling network. The crackdown resulted in the arrest of five crucial associates linked to alleged kingpin Shubham Jaiswal.
Arrests and Charges
The arrests occurred at Bhorsar Link Road on the Mirzapur Bypass during the intervening night of Saturday and Sunday. DCP Kashi zone Gaurav Banswal confirmed the detention of Amit Jaiswal, Divesh Jaiswal, Ghanshyam, Abhinav Kumar Yadav, and Ankush Singh.
These individuals face serious charges under multiple legal provisions:
- Sections 61(2) for criminal conspiracy
- Section 318(4) for cheating
- Section 338 for forgery
- Sections 336(3) and 340(2) for fraud
- Relevant sections of the NDPS Act
During the arrest, police recovered 46 foreign currency notes and a high-end mobile phone from the accused.
Financial Scale and Modus Operandi
The investigation reveals staggering financial dimensions to this criminal enterprise. According to police statements, the detained individuals allegedly earned Rs 8 crore from hawala transactions involving approximately 25 lakh bottles of codeine cough syrup.
This represents a portion of the syndicate's total operations, which reportedly handled Rs 40 crore worth of illicit substances. The accused participated in a sophisticated criminal conspiracy utilizing fraudulent documentation.
- They employed fake and forged GST invoices
- They created fraudulent e-way bills through Shelly Traders based in Ranchi, Jharkhand
- They purchased and sold large quantities of codeine cough syrup through various medical firms
- The substances were diverted for non-medicinal narcotic use
Syndicate Structure and Operations
Interrogation of the arrested quintet has revealed intricate details about the syndicate's organizational structure and operational methods. The accused disclosed that multiple meetings took place at Shubham's KBN Plaza, attended by numerous associates including Vikas Singh, Amit Singh Tata, Prashant Upadhyay, Akash Pathak, Gaurav Jaiswal, and Manoj Yadav.
These gatherings focused on three primary criminal activities:
- Codeine cough syrup trafficking
- Money laundering operations
- Ash distribution to various firms
The arrested individuals revealed that while their firms received minimal legitimate stock, the majority of supplies made in their companies' names were actually trafficked by core syndicate members including Shubham Jaiswal, Prashant Upadhyay, Manoj Yadav, Pratik, and Dharmendra Agarwal.
Financial Transactions and Seizures
The financial mechanisms employed by the syndicate were particularly sophisticated. Through firms established by syndicate members, Shubham and Prashant received cash payments, while other members received payments via RTGS transfers. These funds were subsequently diverted to Shubham's accounts through additional RTGS transactions.
The scale of trafficking was enormous, with the syndicate moving 25 lakh bottles of syrup worth Rs 40 crore. The arrested associates received Rs 8 crore as their share of these illicit profits.
Law enforcement disruptions have occurred across multiple states, with several consignments from the syndicate's firms being seized in West Bengal, Bihar, and Tripura. These seizures prompted official notices, to which Shubham allegedly directed his associates to prepare e-way bills and responses while he handled further legal actions.
The kingpin also allegedly instructed Prashant Upadhyay, Akash Pathak, Manoj Yadav, Dharmendra Agarwal, Pratik, and others to obtain necessary documents and establish additional firms specifically for codeine syrup trafficking operations.
This arrest represents a significant breakthrough in ongoing investigations into pharmaceutical smuggling networks in the region, with several accused already apprehended in previous Varanasi operations.
