DRI Busts Major Codeine Smuggling Operations in India
The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has made significant strides in the fight against drug trafficking by seizing over 110,000 bottles of Codeine-based cough syrup in two major operations conducted in Tripura and West Bengal. These operations, executed under the provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985, underscore the DRI’s commitment to dismantling illicit narcotics supply chains.
On July 2, 2026, DRI officials intercepted a suspicious consignment on a train heading to Agartala. The team discovered a remarkable concealment strategy, with 55,626 bottles of cough syrup hidden inside 80 metallic drums. These drums were cleverly covered with a powdery substance to avoid detection. The operation was conducted with the assistance of the Railway Protection Force (RPF) and Assam Rifles, leading to the arrest of one individual who attempted to claim the shipment.
Concurrently, DRI investigators were active in West Bengal, where they conducted a raid on a warehouse in Dankuni. There, they uncovered an additional 56,225 bottles of Codeine-based cough syrup stashed within 104 sealed iron drums. Just like the previous operation, these bottles were concealed under a layer of china clay powder in an effort to evade law enforcement scrutiny. All seized materials were also secured under the NDPS Act.
In total, these operations resulted in the confiscation of approximately 111,000 bottles of Codeine-based cough syrup and one arrest, marking a substantial victory in the DRI’s ongoing battle against drug trafficking.
Codeine, an opiate derivative, is legally utilized in certain pharmaceutical products but is frequently targeted by smuggling syndicates due to its potential for abuse when diverted for illicit purposes. This latest haul sheds light on the persistent efforts by organized criminal networks to illegally distribute narcotic substances through inventive concealment methods.
The DRI remains dedicated to curtailing the activities of such smuggling operations, employing coordinated, intelligence-driven methods to dismantle these networks and protect public health.
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