UP STF busts inter-state codeine syrup network, seizes 30,000 bottles worth ₹3 crore
Synopsis
UP's STF intercepted two vehicles on the Bundelkhand Expressway and uncovered a multi-state codeine syrup racket supplying illegal narcotics markets across four states — complete with label tampering, ₹25,000 driver bonuses, and a GST fraud trail running through a ghost firm in Hamirpur. A separate ANTF operation the same day netted ₹80 lakh in heroin in Sonbhadra.
Key Takeaways
The UP STF seized approximately 30,000 codeine cough syrup bottles worth nearly ₹3 crore in Banda district on 4 September .
Four accused — Dhirendra Kumar , Praveen Kumar alias Lucky , Rohit Pandey , and Shekhar Singh — were arrested.
The gang allegedly sourced supply from Delhi , Haryana , and Chandigarh , distributing across UP , Bihar , Jharkhand , and Madhya Pradesh .
Accused reportedly tampered with product labels and paid drivers an extra ₹25,000 per consignment.
Investigators uncovered alleged GST fraud via fake invoices linked to a bogus medical agency in Hamirpur .
In a separate operation, the ANTF Varanasi unit arrested Himanshu Gautam in Sonbhadra and recovered heroin worth ₹80 lakh .
The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) has dismantled an inter-state smuggling network trafficking codeine-based cough syrup, arresting four accused and recovering approximately 30,000 bottles valued at nearly ₹3 crore from Banda district on 4 September. The operation is part of the state government's sustained crackdown on the illegal narcotics trade.
How the Network Was Busted
Acting on specific intelligence, a Prayagraj STF field unit intercepted a red Tata Nexon car and a DCM vehicle near the northern roundabout of the Bundelkhand Expressway on the Bisanda-Atarra route. A search of both vehicles yielded a large cache of codeine cough syrup, leading to the on-spot arrest of all four suspects.
Who Was Arrested
Officials identified the accused as Dhirendra Kumar of Banda, Praveen Kumar alias Lucky and Rohit Pandey of Atarra, and Shekhar Singh of Hapur. According to the STF, the gang was allegedly sourcing consignments from Delhi, Haryana, and Chandigarh, then distributing them across Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh.
Modus Operandi: Label Tampering and GST Fraud
During questioning, the accused allegedly disclosed that the syrup was not routed through licensed medical stores but was instead funnelled into the illegal narcotics market in districts including Banda, Atarra, and Chitrakoot, as well as adjoining areas of Madhya Pradesh. The gang reportedly changed product labels and sold the syrup at inflated prices. Drivers transporting the consignments were allegedly paid an additional ₹25,000 per delivery.
Investigators also uncovered an alleged GST fraud linked to the operation. Fake invoices were reportedly prepared in the name of a medical agency in Hamirpur, using a firm that the commercial tax department had already declared bogus or non-operational.
Separate Heroin Bust in Sonbhadra
In a concurrent operation, the Anti Narcotics Task Force (ANTF) Varanasi unit arrested Himanshu Gautam in the Karma police station area of Sonbhadra district, recovering heroin valued at approximately ₹80 lakh, according to police. The two operations together signal an intensifying enforcement push across Uttar Pradesh's narcotics supply chains. Further investigation in both cases is underway.
Point of View
A Schedule H drug, was allegedly moving across four states with forged invoices and a ghost GST entity — pointing to systemic failures in both drug licensing and tax administration. The label-tampering angle is particularly telling; it suggests the gang was not just smuggling but actively repackaging a controlled substance for street sale, which escalates the public health risk well beyond a routine seizure. That drivers commanded a ₹25,000 premium per run indicates the network had professionalised its logistics. Enforcement action is necessary, but without tighter coordination between the drugs controller, commercial tax authorities, and state police, similar networks will simply reconstitute under different names.
NationPress
4 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did the UP STF seize in the Banda district operation?
The UP STF seized approximately 30,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup valued at nearly ₹3 crore from two vehicles intercepted on the Bundelkhand Expressway. Four people were arrested in connection with the haul.
Who are the accused arrested in the UP STF codeine syrup bust?
The four arrested individuals are Dhirendra Kumar of Banda, Praveen Kumar alias Lucky and Rohit Pandey of Atarra, and Shekhar Singh of Hapur, according to STF officials.
How did the codeine syrup smuggling network operate?
The gang allegedly sourced codeine syrup from Delhi, Haryana, and Chandigarh, then distributed it to illegal narcotics markets across UP, Bihar, Jharkhand, and Madhya Pradesh. They reportedly changed product labels, inflated prices, and paid drivers ₹25,000 extra per consignment.
What GST fraud was uncovered in the UP drug bust?
Investigators found that fake invoices were allegedly prepared in the name of a medical agency in Hamirpur, using a firm that the commercial tax department had already declared bogus or non-operational.
Was there a separate drug operation conducted alongside the Banda bust?
Yes. The Anti Narcotics Task Force Varanasi unit arrested Himanshu Gautam in Sonbhadra's Karma police station area on the same day and recovered heroin worth approximately ₹80 lakh. Both cases are under further investigation.
