Massive Crackdown on Illegal Codeine Syrup Trade in Uttar Pradesh

Continuing this drive, the Chief Minister directed the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) to launch a special state-wide campaign to curb illegal stocking, purchase, sale, distribution, and diversion of codeine-based cough syrups and NDPS-category medicines. Acting on these directions, the campaign was launched three months ago and is now being termed the largest crackdown of its kind in the country.

Intensive Inspections Across 52 Districts

As part of the drive, FSDA conducted inspections of 332 wholesale drug establishments across 52 districts. Based on documentary and physical evidence, FIRs were registered against 161 firms and operators in 36 districts under relevant provisions of the NDPS Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).The investigation established non-medical and intoxicant use of codeine cough syrup, with suspicious supplies worth over ₹700 crore currently under scrutiny.

Illegal Diversion Network Uncovered

Before initiating the crackdown, FSDA carried out extensive internal investigations. Teams conducted discreet probes in Jharkhand, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, collecting evidence of business links between super stockists, wholesalers, and entities connected to Uttar Pradesh.

Inspections of cough syrup manufacturing units in Himachal Pradesh, Haryana, and Uttarakhand were carried out, and production as well as distribution records were seized. Further scrutiny of purchase and sale records in Ranchi, Delhi, and Lucknow revealed that many wholesalers could neither verify receipt of stock nor produce valid sales bills to retail medical stores.Instead, investigators uncovered a parallel and illegal distribution network, where billing was done in the names of super stockists in Delhi and Ranchi and certain identified wholesalers, without actual medical supply.

Massive Mismatch Between Supply and Medical Need

FSDA’s investigation found that in 2024–25, the supply of codeine-based cough syrup in Uttar Pradesh was many times higher than actual medical requirements.

Key findings include:

• 2.23 crore bottles of Phensedyl (Abbott Healthcare)

• 73 lakh bottles of Ascoff (Laborate Pharmaceuticals)

• Around 25 lakh bottles from other manufacturers

None of these supplies could be substantiated as being for legitimate medical use.

Legal Action and Arrests

Based on FSDA reports:

• 79 cases have been registered so far

• 85 accused have been arrested

• District Magistrates have been informed to initiate proceedings under the Gangster Act for attachment of assets acquired through illegal narcotics trade

The Allahabad High Court upheld proceedings under the NDPS Act and dismissed writ petitions in 22 cases, including petitions seeking stay on arrest.

A Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted in the matter is conducting a detailed probe and is expected to submit its report to the Chief Minister next month.

Regulatory Reforms Proposed

On the Chief Minister’s directions, the FSDA headquarters has submitted a proposal to the state government to make the wholesale drug licensing system more stringent and transparent.

Key proposals include:

• Geo-tagging of wholesale drug establishments

• Verification of storage capacity

• Mandatory photographic documentation

• Verification of experience certificates of technical staff by Drug Inspectors

Additionally, a proposal has been sent to the Government of India seeking necessary notifications and guidelines for stricter manufacture, bulk supply, distribution, and monitoring of codeine-based cough syrups.