Lucknow: The UP STF has arrested a former pharmaceutical company employee for playing a key role in a large network accused of diverting codeine-based cough syrups, including Phensedyl, from legitimate pharmaceutical channels into the illegal narcotics trade.Bhupinder Singh Chauhan, a resident of Saharanpur, was arrested near the Shaheed Path in Lucknow on Wednesday in connection with a 2024 case registered at Sushant Golf City police station. STF officials said the case pertains to the alleged diversion, illegal storage and distribution of codeine-based cough syrups that were purportedly sold for use as intoxicants through a network of pharmaceutical distributors, stockists and shell firms.According to STF officials, Chauhan had been evading arrest since the case came to light. Two mobile phones, an ATM card and cash were recovered from him.Investigators claim the arrest has provided crucial leads into what appears to be an extensive supply chain that operated across several states and allegedly used legitimate drug licences and pharmaceutical distribution channels to divert cough syrups into the illicit market.“During interrogation, Chauhan disclosed that he joined a pharmaceutical firm as an area manager in 2006. After leaving the company in 2019, he remained associated with pharmaceutical distribution operations and managed business activities linked to firms under investigation,” said ASP, STF, Lal Pratap Singh. Large quantities of cough syrup were reportedly supplied to stockists across western Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and other states. Investigators suspect that while transactions appeared legitimate on paper, a significant portion of the products was diverted for illegal consumption.Officials said several firms based in Ghaziabad were created to generate documentation and conceal the actual movement of pharmaceutical stock. These firms are being examined for their suspected role in creating a paper trail that masked the diversion of codeine-based medicines.The probe has also revealed a network of distributors and intermediaries spread across districts including Ghaziabad, Meerut, Saharanpur, Bulandshahr, Aligarh and Moradabad. A significant aspect of the case is the STF’s claim that some consignments were ultimately routed to smugglers operating along the Tripura and West Bengal borders. Investigators allege that cough syrup purchased through bogus entities was supplied without formal documentation and subsequently channelled to cross-border trafficking networks. Payments, officials suspect, were often routed through hawala channels.
