The Varanasi police achieved a significant breakthrough in their ongoing investigation into a major codeine cough syrup smuggling network on Tuesday. In a carefully coordinated operation near the Nepal border in Siddharthnagar, authorities apprehended three crucial members of the syndicate allegedly linked to kingpin Shubham Jaiswal.
Key Arrests Near Nepal Border
Acting on intelligence and a pre-existing Look Out Circular, the police team successfully intercepted the suspects as they were attempting to flee across the international border into Nepal. The arrested individuals have been identified as Vikas Singh, Akash Pathak, and Ankit Srivastava. Both Vikas Singh and Akash Pathak were carrying substantial rewards of Rs 50,000 each for their capture, indicating their importance within the criminal organization.
Deepening Investigation into Smuggling Network
Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime) T Sarvanan, who is spearheading the Special Investigation Team probe, confirmed that the Kotwali police unit made these arrests. The three individuals are described as key associates within Shubham Jaiswal's extensive smuggling operation. With these latest apprehensions, the total number of people connected to Jaiswal's codeine drug syndicate who have been taken into custody in Varanasi has now reached thirteen.
Revealing the Business Operations
The investigation has uncovered intricate details about how the smuggling network operated. Vikas Singh, hailing from Narve village in Azamgarh, was the proprietor of Devnath Pharmacy. Police records indicate he procured an astonishing 513,000 bottles of codeine cough syrup from Sally Pharma, conducting business worth approximately Rs 15 crore. His responsibilities extended to managing the financial aspects of the smuggling operations, and he reportedly made multiple trips to Dubai alongside Shubham Jaiswal.
Fake Companies and Criminal Conspiracies
Akash Pathak owned Med Remedy Lifecare Private Limited, which authorities have identified as a fraudulent entity. Both Shubham Jaiswal and Akash Pathak served as co-directors of this company. Investigators revealed that Shubham issued a competent certificate bearing his signature to legitimize their activities. Akash is described as Shubham's right-hand man in the smuggling operations. The third arrested individual, Ankit Srivastava, worked as an associate to Vikas Singh.
Further complicating the case, Shubham's father, Bhola Prasad Jaiswal, was previously arrested by Sonbhadra police. He had established a company named Shaily Traders in Ranchi, Jharkhand. In what authorities describe as a criminal conspiracy, Shubham Jaiswal and his father created another firm called Shiv Enterprises specifically to generate fake tax invoices and electronic bills. These documents were used to siphon codeine cough syrup for smuggling purposes.
Elaborate Paper Trail Uncovered
The investigation has revealed that while no actual stock of cough syrup was received by Shiv Enterprises, the company created extensive paperwork showing transactions and transportation. Meanwhile, the actual consignments of codeine syrup were diverted elsewhere to be sold at significantly higher profits in the illicit market. This elaborate scheme allowed the syndicate to operate while creating a misleading paper trail.
The Varanasi police continue their investigation into this widespread smuggling network, which has exposed vulnerabilities in pharmaceutical supply chains and taxation systems that criminal elements have exploited for substantial illegal profits.
