Bengal CM Adhikari vows drug-free state, 2 lakh codeine bottles seized in Dakshin Dinajpur
Synopsis
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari's drug crackdown has drawn a notable corporate response — Laborate Pharmaceuticals has formally pledged to stop selling its Eskuf Cough Syrup through any channel in the state and has recalled all depot stock, following a seizure of two lakh bottles in Dakshin Dinajpur. It may be the first time a pharma firm has voluntarily exited a state market under direct enforcement pressure.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari on 23 September 2026 reaffirmed a 'zero-tolerance' policy against drug trafficking in the state.
Police seized nearly two lakh bottles of illegally procured codeine-based cough syrup in Dakshin Dinajpur district ; the stock was subsequently destroyed.
Laborate Pharmaceuticals India Ltd formally pledged that its Eskuf Cough Syrup will no longer be sold to any dealer in West Bengal .
The company has recalled all existing inventory of the product from its local depot in the state.
Adhikari called on citizens to join the government's mission to build a drug-free West Bengal.
West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, reaffirmed his government's commitment to eliminating drug abuse across the state, citing a major seizure in Dakshin Dinajpur district and a formal pledge from a pharmaceutical manufacturer to halt sales of a codeine-based cough syrup in West Bengal.
Key Developments
In a post on X, Adhikari said the state administration and police have been pursuing sustained enforcement action to curb substance abuse and dismantle drug trafficking networks across West Bengal. The Chief Minister highlighted that nearly two lakh bottles of illegally procured and smuggled codeine-based cough syrup were seized and subsequently destroyed by police in a recent operation in Dakshin Dinajpur.
Pharma Firm Pledges Withdrawal From Bengal Market
Following the crackdown, Laborate Pharmaceuticals India Ltd submitted a formal representation pledging cooperation with the state government. According to Adhikari, the company has committed that its product Eskuf Cough Syrup will no longer be sold directly or through its local sales depot to any dealer within West Bengal. The firm has also recalled all existing inventory of the product from its local depot in the state.
'Following this proactive enforcement, the concerned pharmaceutical manufacturer, Laborate Pharmaceuticals India Ltd, has submitted a formal representation pledging cooperation in curbing the drug menace,' Adhikari said in his post, adding that the company's undertaking marks a meaningful step toward securing a drug-free public health system.
Zero-Tolerance Stance and Government Warning
'There is absolutely zero tolerance for illicit narcotics and drug trafficking in Bengal. Our administration will continue to act relentlessly to protect public health and secure a safe future for the coming generations,' Adhikari said, commending the police and local administration for their vigilance.
The Chief Minister reiterated that enforcement efforts will be intensified to safeguard public health and protect younger generations from the dangers of drug addiction. He also appealed to citizens to actively participate in building a healthier, safer, and drug-free West Bengal.
Context and Broader Significance
Codeine-based cough syrups have long been misused as a cheap substitute for harder drugs, particularly in border districts of West Bengal that share proximity with Bangladesh and Nepal. The Dakshin Dinajpur seizure underscores the scale of illicit pharmaceutical diversion in the region. Notably, this is not the first time Bengal's border districts have surfaced in connection with cough-syrup smuggling — enforcement agencies have flagged the corridor repeatedly over the past several years. The pharmaceutical company's proactive withdrawal from the Bengal market, while voluntary, sets a precedent for how manufacturers may be compelled to act in response to state-level enforcement pressure.
What Comes Next
Adhikari has indicated that the government's 'zero-tolerance' crackdown will continue and broaden. It remains to be seen whether other pharmaceutical companies whose products are similarly misused will face comparable pressure, and whether the state will move toward legislative or regulatory measures to supplement enforcement operations.
Point of View
And if this model holds, it could become a template for other states battling pharmaceutical diversion. However, the durability of such pledges without a legally binding mechanism is uncertain; the same depot network can resume supply the moment enforcement attention shifts. Bengal's border geography makes it structurally vulnerable to narcotics transit regardless of single-product crackdowns. The real test of Adhikari's 'zero-tolerance' framing will be whether enforcement sustains beyond headline operations, and whether the state pursues systemic fixes — stricter wholesale tracking, mandatory manufacturer reporting — rather than periodic seizure drives.
NationPress
23 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did West Bengal CM Suvendu Adhikari announce regarding the drug crackdown?
CM Suvendu Adhikari reaffirmed his government's zero-tolerance stance on drug trafficking on 23 September 2026, highlighting a major seizure of nearly two lakh codeine-based cough syrup bottles in Dakshin Dinajpur and a formal pledge by Laborate Pharmaceuticals to withdraw its Eskuf Cough Syrup from the West Bengal market.
What was seized in the Dakshin Dinajpur drug operation?
Police seized and destroyed nearly two lakh bottles of illegally procured and smuggled codeine-based cough syrup in Dakshin Dinajpur district. The operation was cited by the Chief Minister as a key example of sustained enforcement action across the state.
What has Laborate Pharmaceuticals agreed to do?
Laborate Pharmaceuticals India Ltd has formally pledged that its product Eskuf Cough Syrup will not be sold directly or through its local sales depot to any dealer in West Bengal. The company has also recalled all existing inventory of the product from its local Bengal depot.
Why are codeine-based cough syrups a concern in West Bengal?
Codeine-based cough syrups are widely misused as cheap substitutes for harder narcotics, particularly in border districts of West Bengal. The state's proximity to Bangladesh and Nepal makes it a transit and consumption hotspot for diverted pharmaceutical products.
What steps has the West Bengal government said it will take next?
CM Adhikari has indicated that enforcement efforts will be intensified and sustained, with police and local administration continuing to target drug trafficking networks. He has also appealed to citizens to participate in the government's broader drug-free mission, though specific new legislative or regulatory measures have not yet been announced.
