Sambalpur: 2400 Bottles of Cough Syrup Worth Rs. 8 Lakh Seized, 12 Arrested in Sambalpur
Sambalpur Police Crack Down on Drug Trafficking
Sambalpur: Sambalpur Police have seized 2400 bottles of cough syrup worth ₹8 lakhs and arrested 12 people in connection with the illegal trade. The cough syrup was being transported from Kolkata to Bargarh via Bhubaneswar. However, the alleged mastermind of the operation remains at large, according to Sambalpur SP Mukesh Bhamu.
The arrested individuals include Raja Nag (29), Azad Banchhor (20), Chandan Banchhor (22), Raj Sandha (21), Kutartha Mahanand (40), Mahendra Bachha (22), Akash Bag (21), Rajeev Sahu (23), Dasarath Behera (20), Ashish Agrawal (29), Shubham Gupta (20), and Jitu Nag (25). During the operation, police also seized two Mahindra Bolero vehicles, one Honda scooter, and RS. 3,000 in cash.
How the Racket Operates
Manufacturers produced the cough syrup in Kolkata, stopped it in Bhubaneswar, and then transported it to Sambalpur. Distributors transported the syrup from Sambalpur to Hirakud for local distribution before selling it in Bargarh. Police discovered this network during the seizure.
According to reports, the mafia distributes drugs through local groups. They make small packets and sell them in rural and semi-urban areas, with the assistance of locals.
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Family Members Deny Involvement
Police arrested several people, and their families, including Raj Sandha’s mother Sabitri Sandha and Kutartha Mahanand’s wife Pinky Mahanand, who claim that authorities falsely accused their loved ones. Sabitri, who works as a cleaner at Burla Hospital, claimed that police took her son from their home at night despite his lack of involvement in drug trafficking. Similarly, the families of Azad and Chandan Banchhor claimed that police arrested their sons while they were at home and discovered no cough syrup in their possession.
Increasing Crime Linked to Drug Addiction
Sambalpur SP Mukesh Bhamu and IG Himanshu Lal stated that addiction is becoming a major cause of crimes in the region. To combat this, the police launched a special anti-drug campaign on November 11. Previously, such operations were limited to festivals or elections, but now the police plan to take stricter actions against drug-related activities. Citizens have been urged to report any drug-related activities by calling 8763574292. The police assured that the identity of informants will remain confidential.
This crackdown marks a significant step in addressing the growing issue of drug abuse and trafficking in the region.
