Odisha Police Crack Down on Illegal Cough Syrup Trade, 118 Arrested and 73,000 Bottles Seized

Bhubaneswar, Dec 10: In a major statewide operation against the illegal trade and smuggling of intoxicant-laced cough syrup, Odisha Police have arrested 118 individuals and seized 73,181 bottles of the contraband across multiple districts.

According to the Odisha Police headquarters, 61 cases have been registered so far. The Special Task Force (STF), Bhubaneswar, led the enforcement drive and seized the single largest consignment of 26,658 bottles, marking one of the most significant recoveries in recent years.

Western Odisha districts reported the highest action. Sambalpur Police made 66 arrests, followed by Bargarh with 64, Balangir with 23, Subarnapur with 7, Sundargarh with 6, and Keonjhar with 6 arrests. Police said the coordinated operations highlight their sustained efforts to curb drug trafficking networks active in the region.

Sambalpur district registered 13 cases and seized 19,908 bottles, while Bargarh lodged 17 cases with a haul of 12,856 bottles. Balangir recorded 12 cases and seized 5,468 bottles. In other districts, Subarnapur registered 6 cases (451 bottles seized) and Boudh recorded 4 cases (1,886 bottles seized).

Director General of Police Yogesh Bahadur Khurania praised the district units and the STF for their effective coordination and impactful enforcement. He assured that similar operations will continue across the state, reaffirming strict action against all those involved in the narcotics trade.

Police officials said the crackdown sends a strong message to drug traffickers and underscores their commitment to combating the menace of illegal intoxicants in Odisha.