Codeine scam kingpin’s two aides arrested

Varanasi: The Kotwali police on Thursday arrested two aides of codeine cough syrup smuggling syndicate kingpin Shubham Jaiswal.

ACP Kotwali Vijay Pratap Singh said that Kotwali police had summoned the accused in the cough syrup smuggling case, including Mukesh Kumar Yadav of Madiha and Rishabh Yadav of Dhoopchandi, for interrogation. During the interrogation, a detailed examination of various GST invoices, e-way bills and other documentary evidence was conducted.

The accused confessed that in collusion with absconding accused Shubham Jaiswal, they were involved in the large-scale purchase and sale of codeine-based cough syrup in violation of drug licence conditions. Through smuggling, illegal diversion of codeine syrup was carried out to states like Bihar, Bengal and Tripura for financial gains.