The Ahmedabad Rural Police seized 659 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup in two separate operations in Bavla and Bagodara in Ahmedabad district, arresting two men, officials said on Thursday, October 29. Vehicles and mobile phones worth a total of Rs 6.68 lakh were also confiscated in the two operations.
In the first operation, Bavla police seized 59 bottles of 100 ml cough syrup from a Maruti Suzuki Swift car near Trimurti Hospital, opposite the entrance to Navapara, along the Ahmedabad-Rajkot National Highway. The bottles were labelled Cufrex T Rx Codeine Phosphate and Triprolidine Hydrochloride Cough Linctus and were valued at Rs 9,440. Police also seized two mobile phones worth Rs 30,000 and the car, valued at Rs 5 lakh, taking the total value of seized property in that operation to Rs 5,39,440.
The accused in the first case was identified as Kiranbhai alias Dipak Pagi, 24, a labourer residing in Navapara of Bavla. A case was registered at Bavla police station under Sections 8(c), 21(c) and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Police said further investigation is underway and that action is also being taken against the alleged supplier of the seized stock.
In the second operation, the Anti-Narcotics Wing of Ahmedabad Rural Police seized 600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup from a house in Kanotar village in Bavla taluka, within the jurisdiction of Bagodara police station. Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Police Inspector H. C. Gohil raided the residence of Amrut Rathod in the presence of panch witnesses, and the bottles were found in three plastic bags, police said.
The 600 bottles were valued at Rs 1,18,800, at Rs 198 each. One mobile phone worth Rs 10,000 was also seized, taking the total value of property in the second operation to Rs 1,28,800. Police said the cough syrup was examined in the presence of a Forensic Science Laboratory officer and found to be prohibited under the NDPS Act, and a case was registered at Bagodara police station under Sections 8(c), 21(c) and 29 of the Act.
Police said the operations were conducted following instructions from senior officials to crack down on the illegal narcotics trade. The district police have urged residents to report suspected drug-related activities to their nearest police station or to the MANAS National Narcotics Helpline on 1933, assuring that the identity of informants would be kept confidential.