Gujarat: 358 illegal cough syrup bottles seized in Ahmedabad raid, one arrested
Synopsis
A targeted anti-narcotics sweep on Sarkhej-Dholka Road has exposed what investigators believe is part of a wider codeine-based cough syrup supply chain in Ahmedabad district — with the arrested driver's home taluka, Bavla, already flagged in an earlier seizure of 273 bottles this year. Two wanted accused remain at large as police map the network.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Rural Police seized 358 bottles of suspected intoxicating cough syrup worth ₹70,884 near Satva Arcade Complex, Sarkhej-Dholka Road on 28 June .
Total value of all seized property — syrup, vehicle, and mobile phone — estimated at ₹3,75,884 .
Arrested accused: Khoda alias Rohit Thakor , 36 , driver, resident of Bavla taluka , Ahmedabad district.
Two wanted accused — Jignesh Thakor and Ravi Pagi , both of Bavla taluka — remain at large.
Case registered under Sections 8(c) , 21(c) , and 29 of the NDPS Act, 1985 at Aslali Police Station .
A separate earlier raid in Bavla this year had already recovered 273 bottles of similar contraband.
Ahmedabad Rural Police in Gujarat seized 358 bottles of suspected intoxicating cough syrup worth ₹70,884 from a pick-up truck on 28 June, arresting one person during a targeted anti-narcotics operation in the Aslali area of Ahmedabad district. The total value of all seized property — including the vehicle and a mobile phone — has been estimated at ₹3,75,884.
How the Operation Unfolded
Acting on specific intelligence about the transportation of illicit cough syrup, officers intercepted a vehicle near Satva Arcade Complex on Sarkhej-Dholka Road. Along with the 358 bottles of contraband, police recovered a mobile phone valued at ₹5,000 and impounded the pick-up truck, estimated to be worth approximately ₹3 lakh.
The Accused and Wanted Persons
The arrested individual has been identified as Khoda alias Rohit Thakor, 36, a driver and resident of Bavla taluka in Ahmedabad district. Two others — Jignesh Thakor and Ravi Pagi, both also residents of Bavla taluka — have been named as wanted accused in the case and remain at large.
Legal Sections Invoked
A case has been registered at Aslali Police Station under Sections 8(c), 21(c), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. Investigators are working to trace the source and distribution network behind the seized contraband.
Pattern of Enforcement in Ahmedabad District
This is not an isolated seizure. Earlier this year, police in Bavla — the same taluka where the arrested accused resides — recovered 273 bottles of intoxicating cough syrup in a separate operation, arresting one person and seizing a vehicle. Coordinated raids in Changodar and Sanand areas of Ahmedabad Rural also resulted in recoveries and detentions as part of ongoing anti-drug drives.
Officials have noted that codeine-based cough syrups are increasingly being misused as intoxicants, particularly among young people in parts of Gujarat. The recurring pattern of seizures across Bavla, Changodar, and Sanand suggests a broader supply network operating within the district. Further investigation in the present case is ongoing.
Point of View
The same area where police had already busted a 273-bottle consignment earlier this year. That is not coincidence — it points to a localised supply corridor that enforcement has repeatedly disrupted but not dismantled. With two wanted accused still free, the critical question is whether investigators can move up the chain to identify suppliers, not just drivers. Codeine-based syrup abuse among youth in Gujarat is a documented trend, and piecemeal vehicle interceptions, however consistent, will not address the retail and wholesale networks enabling it.
NationPress
29 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Ahmedabad Rural Police raid on 28 June?
Police seized 358 bottles of suspected intoxicating cough syrup worth ₹70,884, along with a pick-up truck valued at approximately ₹3 lakh and a mobile phone worth ₹5,000. The total value of all seized property has been estimated at ₹3,75,884.
Who was arrested in the Aslali cough syrup raid?
The arrested accused is Khoda alias Rohit Thakor, 36, a driver and resident of Bavla taluka in Ahmedabad district. Two others — Jignesh Thakor and Ravi Pagi, both of Bavla taluka — have been named as wanted accused and remain at large.
Under which laws has the case been registered?
The case has been registered at Aslali Police Station under Sections 8(c), 21(c), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, 1985. These provisions relate to possession and trafficking of narcotic substances.
Why is codeine-based cough syrup being treated as a narcotic?
Codeine-based cough syrups are controlled substances under the NDPS Act because they are increasingly misused as intoxicants, particularly among young people. Officials in Gujarat have flagged a growing trend of such syrups being sold and consumed illegally outside their prescribed medical use.
Is this part of a wider crackdown in Ahmedabad district?
Yes. Earlier this year, police in Bavla seized 273 bottles of similar contraband in a separate operation. Coordinated raids in Changodar and Sanand areas have also recovered illegal cough syrup and led to detentions, indicating sustained enforcement activity across Ahmedabad Rural.
