Operation Kavach: Delhi Police arrests man for illegal sale of prohibited medicines near Turkman Gate
Synopsis
Delhi Police's Operation Kavach has netted a medical store operator near Turkman Gate who allegedly sold codeine syrup without prescription. With 14 bottles of codeine syrup, 55 Alprazolam tablets, and 43 Spasmed capsules seized, investigators are now tracing the supply chain behind the haul — suggesting the bust may be just the first link in a larger network.
Key Takeaways
Afsan , 36, a resident of Chandni Mahal, Delhi , was arrested on 25 September 2026 under Operation Kavach .
Police recovered 14 bottles of codeine syrup , 55 Alprazolam tablets , and 43 Spasmed capsules from Al Madina Medicos near Turkman Gate .
The accused allegedly sold codeine syrup to a decoy customer without a valid prescription.
A case was registered under FIR No.
463/2026 , Sections 22 and 25 of the NDPS Act , at Chandni Mahal Police Station .
Afsan has been placed on one-day police custody remand ; investigators are tracing the supply chain and expect further arrests.
The Special Staff of Central District Police, acting under Operation Kavach, arrested a 36-year-old man on 25 September 2026 for allegedly possessing and selling prohibited medicines without prescription from a medical store near Turkman Gate, New Delhi. The accused, identified as Afsan, a resident of Chandni Mahal, Delhi, was caught following a targeted decoy operation at Al Madina Medicos, Shop No. 2293, near Two Bhai Hotel.
How the Arrest Was Made
Acting on secret intelligence received on 25 September, the Special Staff deployed a decoy customer to the medical store to attempt the purchase of codeine syrup. The accused allegedly sold one bottle of codeine syrup to the decoy customer without demanding a valid doctor's prescription.
Upon receiving the pre-arranged signal from the decoy customer, the police team moved in and raided the premises. A Drug Inspector was called to the spot, and all recovered substances were seized following prescribed legal procedure.
Medicines Recovered
During the search, officers recovered 14 bottles of codeine syrup, 55 tablets of Alprazolam (Alzomac), and 43 capsules of Spasmed from the accused. These medicines fall under the category of prohibited or regulated substances under Indian drug law, the sale of which without valid prescription is a cognisable offence.
Case Registered and Investigation Underway
A case has been registered under FIR No. 463/2026 under Sections 22 and 25 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Chandni Mahal Police Station, dated 25 September 2026. Afsan was placed on one-day police custody remand for questioning about the source, procurement network, and distribution of the prohibited medicines. Police confirmed the accused has no prior criminal record.
The operation was conducted by a team comprising SI Naresh, HC Mohit, HC Munesh, HC Vikas, HC Inderjeet, Constable Ajay, Constable Lokesh, and ASI Dev Kishan, working under the supervision of the In-charge, Special Staff, Central District, and under the overall direction of ACP/Operations, Central District, Padam Singh Rana.
Operation Kavach and the Broader Crackdown
Operation Kavach is an ongoing initiative by the Central District Police to curb organised crime tied to the illegal sale and distribution of narcotic and prohibited substances. The Special Staff has been tasked with developing intelligence networks and taking strict enforcement action in sensitive areas. Secret informers had reportedly been deployed in the Turkman Gate locality prior to this arrest, with their intelligence directly enabling the decoy operation.
Investigators are now working to identify other individuals in the supply chain and trace the original source of the seized medicines. Further arrests are expected as the probe continues to dismantle the network allegedly behind the illegal distribution.
Point of View
And their availability without prescription points to systemic gaps in pharmacy inspection. Operation Kavach's use of decoy customers is a proven enforcement tool, but the real test is whether investigators can move beyond the retail end and dismantle the procurement network that keeps such stores supplied. A single shopkeeper arrest, without tracing the distributor, rarely breaks the chain.
NationPress
26 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Operation Kavach?
Operation Kavach is an ongoing initiative by the Central District Police in Delhi aimed at curbing the illegal sale and distribution of narcotic and prohibited substances. Under the operation, the Special Staff develops intelligence networks and conducts targeted enforcement actions in high-risk localities.
Who was arrested near Turkman Gate and what was seized?
A 36-year-old man identified as Afsan, a resident of Chandni Mahal, Delhi, was arrested from Al Madina Medicos near Turkman Gate on 25 September 2026. Police seized 14 bottles of codeine syrup, 55 Alprazolam (Alzomac) tablets, and 43 Spasmed capsules from his possession.
What law has been applied in this case?
A case has been registered under FIR No. 463/2026 under Sections 22 and 25 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Chandni Mahal Police Station. These sections deal with the illegal possession and sale of psychotropic substances.
How did police catch the accused?
Acting on secret intelligence, officers deployed a decoy customer to purchase codeine syrup from the store. The accused sold the syrup without asking for a prescription, triggering a pre-arranged signal to the waiting police team, who then raided and searched the premises.
What happens next in the investigation?
Afsan was placed on one-day police custody remand for questioning about the source and distribution of the medicines. Investigators are working to identify others in the supply chain and dismantle the broader network involved in the illegal sale of prohibited medicines, with further arrests expected.
