New Delhi: Authorities in outer Delhi have dismantled a significant drug supply network with the arrest of a medical store owner. The individual, identified as Tushar Malhotra, a resident of Motia Khan, was taken into custody following a raid in Paharganj on April 2.
Information was available with The Chenab Times that the operation stemmed from a case initially registered at the Nihal Vihar police station on March 26. In that preceding action, three individuals were arrested with contraband, including codeine syrup and buprenorphine tablets. During subsequent interrogation, one of the accused provided crucial details regarding the source of the illicit supplies.
Acting upon this intelligence, a joint operation was launched by police personnel and drug inspector officials. The team raided Malhotra’s medical store, where they discovered a substantial quantity of codeine-based cough syrup and psychotropic capsules. Officials stated that Malhotra was unable to produce valid purchase records for the seized medications, leading to his apprehension.
The recovered items included 60 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup and 296 Tramadol capsules. Police have indicated that further investigations are ongoing to identify and apprehend other individuals potentially involved in the wider network.
The seizure highlights concerns over the misuse of prescription drugs. Fixed-dose combinations (FDCs) of codeine-based cough syrups, particularly those containing chlorpheniramine maleate, are subject to strict regulations, including bans on their manufacture and sale in India by the Central government. These restrictions are attributed to their high potential for addiction and a lack of proven safety profiles for widespread public access.
Codeine is classified as an opioid drug, derived from the opium poppy. It functions by acting on the brain’s cough-control center, effectively reducing the urge to cough. Its primary medical application is for the suppression of severe, persistent coughs. Additionally, codeine is recognized for its mild pain-relieving properties. However, due to its chemical composition, codeine is converted into morphine within the human body. This conversion can lead to side effects such as drowsiness, constipation, and nausea. In certain individuals, particularly children or when consumed in high doses, it can also result in slowed breathing.
The investigation is continuing to trace the origins and distribution channels of the illegal substances.
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The Chenab Times News Desk
