The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has busted an interstate drug trafficking network allegedly diverting prescription-based opioid medicines for illegal sale in Mumbai and neighbouring areas, seizing more than 15,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup and 12,240 Tramadol tablets.
The operation began on August 8, when the NCB’s Mumbai unit intercepted a passenger bus travelling from Gujarat to Mumbai. Acting on specific intelligence, officers seized 1,080 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup (CBCS), weighing around 108 kg, and arrested N. Shaikh.
Investigators suspect the cough syrup was being transported through the passenger bus to avoid detection before being distributed in Mumbai, Bhiwandi and adjoining areas.
The probe quickly led officers
to Gujarat. After field surveillance, the NCB traced a distributor operating from Vadodara and located his godown. A subsequent search resulted in the seizure of another 13,938 CBCS bottles and 12,240 Tramadol tablets.
The seizure also exposed an elaborate attempt to conceal the alleged diversion of medicines. According to the NCB, batch numbers on several bottles had been tampered with, while fake invoices and other documents allegedly used to divert narcotics-based medicines were recovered from the premises.
Investigators have also found previous criminal links involving the arrested accused. Shaikh, who allegedly operated from Bhiwandi in Thane district, had earlier been arrested by Maharashtra Police in another case registered under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. The Gujarat-based distributor is also reportedly wanted in NDPS cases registered by police.
In a separate operation on August 12, the NCB seized 1.060 kg of charas during a search of a house in Ghatkopar and arrested a woman identified as A.J. Shaikh. The contraband was allegedly concealed among household articles and had been procured for further sale in Mumbai and surrounding areas.
According to investigators, the accused and her associates allegedly intended to exploit reduced availability of charas in the run-up to the festive season and sell the drug at inflated prices. Several other suspected associates have been identified and are being traced.
The NCB said investigations into both cases are continuing, with officers focusing on identifying the wider supply chain and other members of the networks.
The agency has urged citizens to report drug-related information through MANAS, the National Narcotics Helpline, on 1933. The identity of informants, it said, will be kept confidential.
