Gujarat Police seize 659 codeine cough syrup bottles in Bavla-Bagodara raids, 2 held
Synopsis
Two men were arrested after Ahmedabad Rural Police found 659 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup — 59 in a highway car and 600 stashed in a village home — in a single day. The combined haul and the scale of the home stockpile point to an organised supply chain, not opportunistic misuse, making this a significant node in Gujarat's ongoing narcotics crackdown.
Key Takeaways
Ahmedabad Rural Police seized 659 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup in two operations on 29 October 2026 .
First raid at Bavla netted 59 bottles from a car on the Ahmedabad-Rajkot National Highway ; accused Kiranbhai alias Dipak Pagi, 24 , was arrested.
Second raid at Kanotar village, Bagodara uncovered 600 bottles from the residence of Amrut Rathod .
Total seized property across both operations valued at ₹6.68 lakh , including a Maruti Suzuki Swift car worth ₹5 lakh .
Cases registered under Sections 8(c), 21(c), and 29 of the NDPS Act at Bavla and Bagodara police stations.
Police have urged residents to report drug activity via helpline MANAS on 1933 .
Ahmedabad Rural Police seized 659 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup across two targeted operations in Bavla and Bagodara in Ahmedabad district on Thursday, 29 October 2026, arresting two men and confiscating property — including a car, two mobile phones, and drug stock — worth a combined ₹6.68 lakh. The crackdown forms part of a broader district-wide drive against the illegal narcotics trade.
Operation One: Highway Interception at Bavla
In the first operation, Bavla Police intercepted a Maruti Suzuki Swift near Trimurti Hospital, opposite the Navapara entrance on the Ahmedabad-Rajkot National Highway. Officers recovered 59 bottles of 100 ml cough syrup labelled Cufrex T Rx Codeine Phosphate and Triprolidine Hydrochloride Cough Linctus, valued at ₹9,440.
The accused, identified as Kiranbhai alias Dipak Pagi, 24, a labourer from Navapara in Bavla, was arrested. Police also seized two mobile phones worth ₹30,000 and the Swift car valued at ₹5 lakh, bringing the total seized property in this operation to ₹5,39,440. A case has been registered at Bavla Police Station under Sections 8(c), 21(c), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Investigators are also proceeding against the alleged supplier of the seized consignment.
Operation Two: Village Raid Uncovers 600-Bottle Stash
The second operation was conducted by the Anti-Narcotics Wing of Ahmedabad Rural Police at a house in Kanotar village, Bavla taluka, falling under Bagodara Police Station jurisdiction. Acting on a tip-off, a team led by Police Inspector H.C. Gohil raided the residence of Amrut Rathod in the presence of panch witnesses.
Officers found 600 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup packed in three plastic bags, priced at ₹198 each and valued collectively at ₹1,18,800. One mobile phone worth ₹10,000 was also seized, taking the total haul in this operation to ₹1,28,800. The syrup was examined in the presence of a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) officer and confirmed to be prohibited under the NDPS Act. A case was registered at Bagodara Police Station under the same sections of the Act.
Codeine Cough Syrup and the NDPS Net
Codeine-based cough formulations have emerged as a preferred surrogate substance in several parts of Gujarat, given their relative ease of procurement compared to hard narcotics. Once flagged under the NDPS Act, their possession, sale, or transportation without a valid prescription or licence attracts stringent penalties. This is not the first such seizure in Ahmedabad district — authorities have reported a pattern of similar recoveries along highway corridors and in rural pockets of the district.
Notably, the volume gap between the two operations — 59 bottles on a highway vehicle versus 600 bottles stockpiled at a residence — suggests a layered supply chain, with street-level carriers and larger holding points operating in tandem.
What the Police Said
Officials confirmed the operations were conducted following directions from senior officers to intensify the crackdown on the illegal narcotics trade in the district. The Ahmedabad Rural Police have urged citizens to report suspected drug-related activity to the nearest police station or the national narcotics helpline MANAS on 1933, with assurances that informant identities will remain confidential.
Investigations in both cases are ongoing, with authorities working to trace upstream supply chains in each instance. Further arrests are possible as the probe widens.
Point of View
Where small runners carry retail quantities while larger stockpiles sit further back in the chain. Gujarat's repeated NDPS seizures of codeine formulations signal that supply suppression alone, without demand-side interventions or tighter pharmacy oversight, will produce only revolving arrests. The investigation into the alleged supplier in the Bavla case will be the real test of whether this crackdown goes beyond the visible carriers.
NationPress
29 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did Ahmedabad Rural Police seize in the Bavla and Bagodara raids?
Police seized a total of 659 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup — 59 from a car on the Ahmedabad-Rajkot National Highway in Bavla and 600 from a house in Kanotar village, Bagodara. The combined property seized, including a car and mobile phones, was valued at ₹6.68 lakh.
Who were the two men arrested in the Gujarat drug raids?
The first accused, Kiranbhai alias Dipak Pagi, 24, a labourer from Navapara in Bavla, was arrested during the highway interception. The second accused, Amrut Rathod, was arrested after 600 bottles were found at his residence in Kanotar village under Bagodara police station jurisdiction.
Under which law have cases been registered against the accused?
Cases have been registered under Sections 8(c), 21(c), and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act at Bavla and Bagodara police stations respectively. The cough syrup was confirmed to be prohibited under the NDPS Act after examination by a Forensic Science Laboratory officer.
Why is codeine-based cough syrup treated as a narcotic in India?
Codeine is an opioid compound that, when misused or consumed in large quantities, produces dependency and narcotic effects. When scheduled formulations containing codeine are found without a valid prescription or licence, their possession and sale fall under the NDPS Act, attracting stringent penalties.
How can citizens report drug-related activity in Ahmedabad?
The Ahmedabad Rural Police have urged residents to report suspected drug activity to the nearest police station or call the national narcotics helpline MANAS on 1933. Officials have assured that informant identities will be kept strictly confidential.
