Bhubaneswar: In a major breakthrough under Nasha Mukt Bharat Abhiyaan, Khordha Police busted an inter-state codeine cough syrup cartel and arrested 10 persons, including its kingpin, early on Saturday.
A total of 5,520 bottles of WIN CEREX cough syrup, about 552 litres, were seized at 4.50 am on October 18 from the Khordha-Nayagarh New Bypass Road near Nuagaon village under Industrial Estate Police Station.
Among those arrested is Gopinath Yadav alias Gopi Yadav (30), a native of Bihar, who police described as the kingpin and biggest supplier of Corex to Odisha. He allegedly procured the syrup from Kolkata, Haryana and Delhi and supplied it across the state through a network of transporters, stockists and local distributors.
According to police, IIC of Industrial Estate PS received credible input about a large consignment being smuggled from Cuttack towards Khordha and Nayagarh. On the direction of Khordha Parmar Smit Parshottamdas, a team led by SI Swagatika Das intercepted the vehicles near Nuagaon and made the seizure in presence of an Executive Magistrate following NDPS Act procedures.
A case has been registered as Industrial Estate PS Case No. 337 dated 18.10.2026 under Sections 21(c)/29 of NDPS Act for commercial quantity. SI Ashok Kumar Mohanty is investigating the case.
Two more accused, including the manager of the supplier, managed to abscond from the spot. They were allegedly involved in storing Corex at a godown-cum-residential premises. Special teams have been formed to nab them.
Police said further investigation is underway to locate the storage godown, trace inter-state suppliers, examine the financial trail and identify properties acquired from proceeds of the trade for action under NDPS Act.
