NCB seizes 3,000 bottles of codeine cough syrup, three held

Mumbai: The Narcotics Control Bureau has busted an inter-state drug cartel and seized 3,000 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup estimated to cost Rs 15 lakh after arresting three persons, an official said on Sunday.

S R Ahmed, M Aslam and Y Khan were nabbed when they were accepting a parcel of bottles from a transport firm in Ulhasnagar in Thane district, the NCB Mumbai Zonal Unit official said.

"The accused trio prima facie ordered codeine-based cough syrup (CBCS) bottles for illegal distribution in Mumbai. All of them have a criminal background and are involved in the trafficking of drugs," the official said.

Police suspect the accused trio was part of an inter-state drug ring utilising transport services for the illegal trafficking of CBCS bottles.

The seized bottles were sourced from Lucknow, the official said and added that further investigation is underway.