This story is from June 25, 2016

NCB seizes 1.04 lakh bottles of Phensedyl in two months

Within two months of Delhi High Court’s interim injunction on banning cough syrup Phensedyl, Narcotics Control Bureau has seized a total of 1.04 lakh bottles of the prescription medicine which is most often used as a drug in Bangladesh. While there was a temporary climb down on smuggling the medicine to the neighbouring country after central government put a ban on it, movements of the medicine across border has seen a spurt once again after the court injunction.
NCB seizes 1.04 lakh bottles of Phensedyl in two months
KOLKATA: Within two months of Delhi High Court’s interim injunction on banning cough syrup Phensedyl, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has seized a total of 1.04 lakh bottles of the prescription medicine which is most often used as a drug in Bangladesh. While there was a temporary climb down on smuggling the medicine to the neighbouring country after central government put a ban on it, movements of the medicine across border have seen a spurt once again after the court injunction.
The NCB on Wednesday seized 4,000 bottles of the cough syrup from Chitpur rail station.
They were stacked inside 10 large cartons. The cough syrup, destined for Bangladesh, was shipped from Delhi on June 21 and landed at the Chitpur station the next day. While there was no claimant for the consignment, RPF informed NCB officials about that.
The seizure on Wednesday comes on the heels of one of the largest seizures of Phensedyl almost a month back. NCB officials had seized 1 lakh bottles of the cough syrup manufactured by US based drug manufacturer Abbott Healthcare. The officials with the healthcare giant have reportedly told NCB officials that the shipment of 1 lakh bottles was a slip from a consignment. NCB officials, who are closely following illegal shipment of the cough syrup across the border, noted that the Wednesday’s seizure followed the same route the earlier shipment had taken. Given the similarities in the mode of operation NCB officials believe that the same gang has become active and is trying to send Phensedyl consignments in smaller tranche.
Bangladesh has for long been urging Indian government to put a ban on the production of the cough syrup which contains Codeine Phosphate. Being an opium derivative, Codeine Phosphate-laced cough syrups are consumed in Bangladesh and parts of India for their kicks and strong addictive qualities. According to estimates with the Bangladeshi NGOs and rights organisations, almost twenty lakh people in the neighbouring country are addicted with Codeine Phosphate laced cough syrups. As a result, while the MRP of the Schedule H1 drug ranges between Rs 80 and 100, it is sold at a minimum of Rs 650 in Bangladesh. Chittagong, Dhaka, Khulna and Rajshahi are most affected by Codeine Phosphate addiction.
But NCB officials, who are trying to break the rackets smuggling the cough syrup out of the country, are finding it difficult to probe. “After the last seizure we have continued extensive investigation and found several leads. But nothing much can be said at this point,” said Dilip Srivastava, zonal director (east) of NCB. But sources said that immediately after NCB officials started probe, executives of one of the pharma giant went to Mumbai High Court to seek legal protection. According to sources, NCB officials now find it difficult to question certain key officials of the pharma giant who are crucial in breaking cross-border rackets.
author
About the Author
Rohit Khanna

Rohit Khanna covers sectors like government finance, economy, industry and issues related to financial crime.

End of Article
FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA