Zero Tolerance in Action: UP Dismantles Codeine Syrup Black Market

Lucknow: After months of coordinated investigation spanning three states, Uttar Pradesh has launched what officials describe as the biggest crackdown in the country so far against the illegal diversion and black marketing of codeine-based cough syrup and narcotic drugs. Acting under Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s strict zero-tolerance policy, authorities have for the first time moved beyond license cancellations to initiate criminal action under the NDPS Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), marking a historic shift in enforcement.

The operation, led by the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) with support from enforcement agencies, was preceded by an extensive probe in Jharkhand, Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Evidence gathered from these states revealed deep business linkages between drug distributors operating there and super stockists and wholesalers based in Uttar Pradesh. Officials said this groundwork laid the foundation for the large-scale action that began two months ago and continues unabated.

In just 60 days, enforcement teams carried out raids on 332 pharmaceutical firms across 52 districts of Uttar Pradesh. FIRs have been registered against 133 firms in 31 districts, and several operators have already been arrested. According to officials, this is the most comprehensive action taken anywhere in the country against the illegal diversion of codeine-based cough syrup for narcotic abuse.

The crackdown follows Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath’s clear directive to dismantle the entire supply chain of illegal drug trafficking. Soon after assuming office, the Chief Minister declared a decisive war against narcotics under a zero-tolerance framework. In 2022, this vision led to the creation of the Anti-Narcotics Task Force (ANTF). Building on that framework, the FSDA was instructed to intensify action against the misuse of pharmaceutical drugs, particularly codeine-based syrups.

FSDA Secretary and Commissioner Dr Roshan Jacob said the Chief Minister had made it clear that administrative action alone was no longer sufficient. “The Chief Minister directed us to act firmly against those pushing the youth towards addiction. He specifically instructed that action should not stop at canceling licenses but should be strong enough to set a national example and break the entire network damaging young lives,” she said.

In line with these instructions, the FSDA, for the first time, registered cases under the NDPS Act and the BNS against entities involved in the illegal diversion of codeine-based cough syrup. Officials said this marked a significant escalation, as earlier the department’s powers were largely limited to regulatory measures such as license suspension or cancellation. Letters have also been sent to District Magistrates across the state, recommending proceedings under the Gangster Act against habitual offenders.

Investigations revealed serious irregularities across the inspected establishments. Of the 332 firms examined, many were found to exist only on paper and were operating merely as billing centres. Several lacked basic storage infrastructure required under drug regulations, while purchase and sale records were either incomplete or entirely missing. Authorities concluded that 133 establishments were systematically diverting medicines for non-medical and illicit use.

The inquiry further uncovered an organised smuggling network operating across state and international borders. Officials said diverted codeine-based cough syrup was being routed to Nepal via Lucknow, Kanpur, Lakhimpur Kheri and Bahraich, and to Bangladesh through Varanasi and Ghaziabad. Cases of illegal diversion linked to drug abuse have been detected in dozens of districts, including Varanasi, Jaunpur, Kanpur Nagar, Ghazipur, Lakhimpur Kheri, Lucknow, Bahraich, Bijnor, Prayagraj, Pratapgarh, Sitapur, Sonbhadra, Balrampur, Raebareli, Sant Kabir Nagar, Hardoi, Bhadohi, Amethi, Shravasti, Siddharthnagar, Unnao, Basti, Ambedkar Nagar, Azamgarh, Saharanpur, Bareilly, Sultanpur, Chandauli, Mirzapur, Banda and Kaushambi.

Officials said the scale and intensity of the action clearly set Uttar Pradesh apart from other states, where similar issues were often treated as a regulatory formality. “While elsewhere action remained superficial, Uttar Pradesh has established a new benchmark by moving decisively towards criminal prosecution,” a senior official said.

According to the FSDA, the Chief Minister had also issued clear instructions to ensure that genuine small retailers were not harassed during the drive. The focus, officials said, remained firmly on super stockists, wholesalers and organised operators controlling the illicit supply chain. “The message was clear: medicines meant for legitimate medical use must not be diverted from Uttar Pradesh to other states or countries for unlawful abuse,” Dr Jacob said.

The ongoing operation, officials added, represents the most significant blow yet to the black market in codeine-based cough syrup and narcotic drugs. With FIRs under stringent laws, arrests underway and gangster proceedings being initiated, the government believes the action will have a lasting deterrent effect and dismantle the networks that have thrived for years on regulatory loopholes.

As the crackdown continues, authorities said further arrests and legal action are expected, reinforcing the Chief Minister’s stated resolve to crush illegal drug trafficking and protect youth from addiction.