Patna drug raid: ₹40 lakh narcotic medicines seized in Mehdiganj, FIR filed
Synopsis
A warehouse in Patna's Mehdiganj area was found stocked with codeine-based cough syrup, narcotic tablets, and injections worth ₹40 lakh — all banned for illegal trade. The bust signals a growing shift in Bihar's drug problem: from illicit liquor to pharmaceutical narcotics, even as the state's 2016 prohibition law remains in force.
Key Takeaways
Bihar's Prohibition Department raided a warehouse in Mehdiganj, Patna on 31 July , seizing banned narcotic medicines.
The consignment — comprising codeine-based cough syrup , narcotic tablets, and injections — is valued at approximately ₹40 lakh in the illegal market.
An FIR has been registered at Mehandiganj police station under the NDPS Act .
The operation was led by Deputy Commissioner Surendra Kumar and a special enforcement team.
Investigators are tracing the full supply network; further arrests and seizures are expected.
Bihar has enforced liquor prohibition since April 2016 , but pharmaceutical drug misuse is emerging as a parallel challenge.
Bihar's Prohibition Department seized a large consignment of banned narcotic medicines worth an estimated ₹40 lakh in the illegal market during a raid at a warehouse in the Mehdiganj police station area of Patna district on 31 July. The operation marks one of the more significant pharmaceutical drug busts in the state's continuing crackdown on narcotics trafficking.
What Was Seized
The confiscated stock included codeine-based cough syrup, narcotic tablets, and injections — substances that, while manufactured legally, are reportedly diverted for misuse as intoxicants. Officials said the medicines were allegedly stored at the warehouse for illegal distribution across the supply network.
The Enforcement Team
The raid was led by Deputy Commissioner Surendra Kumar, with Assistant Commissioner Prem Prakash, Drug Inspector Ajay Kumar, Prohibition Inspector Deepak Mahto, ASIs Gautam Kumar, Dharmendra Kumar, and Vidyuta Kumari, along with Constable Amit, forming the enforcement unit. The special team acted on directions from the department headquarters.
Legal Action and Investigation
An FIR has been registered at Mehandiganj police station under relevant sections of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Authorities are now working to identify individuals involved in the procurement, storage, transportation, and distribution of the seized medicines. Further arrests and seizures are anticipated as the probe widens.
Broader Context: Bihar's Drug Challenge
Bihar has maintained a prohibition on liquor since April 2016, yet authorities continue to battle both illicit liquor networks and a growing trade in pharmaceutical narcotics. The latest seizure underscores a shifting pattern — from traditional intoxicants to synthetic and prescription-drug misuse, particularly codeine-based products. This is part of an intensified state-wide drive against narcotic substance trafficking, with the Prohibition Department conducting targeted operations across multiple districts. Investigators say the focus will extend beyond the seized stock to mapping the larger supply chain behind it.
Point of View
And codeine-based syrups and narcotic tablets have increasingly filled the gap. The NDPS Act provides the legal teeth, but the supply chain for pharmaceutical narcotics runs through licensed distributors and chemists — a far murkier trail than illicit liquor. Unless the investigation reaches the procurement end of this chain, the ₹40 lakh seizure risks being a headline without a lasting dent.
NationPress
31 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What was seized in the Patna drug raid on 31 July?
Authorities seized banned narcotic medicines — including codeine-based cough syrup, narcotic tablets, and injections — worth an estimated ₹40 lakh in the illegal market from a warehouse in the Mehdiganj area of Patna district.
Who led the Mehdiganj drug raid in Patna?
The operation was led by Deputy Commissioner Surendra Kumar of Bihar's Prohibition Department, supported by Assistant Commissioner Prem Prakash, Drug Inspector Ajay Kumar, Prohibition Inspector Deepak Mahto, and several ASIs and constables.
What legal action has been taken after the Patna narcotic seizure?
An FIR has been registered at Mehandiganj police station under relevant sections of the NDPS Act. The Prohibition Department has also launched an investigation into the wider supply, storage, and distribution network behind the seized medicines.
Why is pharmaceutical drug misuse a concern in Bihar?
Bihar has enforced a prohibition on liquor since April 2016, but authorities report a growing parallel trade in pharmaceutical narcotics such as codeine-based cough syrups and narcotic tablets, which are misused as substitutes for banned alcohol. The Mehdiganj bust highlights this emerging challenge.
What happens next in the Patna drug trafficking investigation?
Officials say the probe will focus on tracing the individuals involved in procuring, storing, transporting, and distributing the seized medicines. Further arrests and seizures are expected as investigators work to dismantle the broader supply network.
