Sonbhadra Police launches big attack on international network of intoxicating cough syrup smuggling, smuggler arrested

Ajit Singh/Rajesh Tiwari (Bureau Report)

Sonbhadra/Uttar Pradesh-

Under the direction of Superintendent of Police Abhishek Verma, as part of the campaign being run to prevent smuggling of narcotic and intoxicating cough syrups and to take effective action against criminals/smugglers, District Sonbhadra Police (SIT Team) registered FIR No. 1191/2025 at Police Station Robertsganj under Section 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2)(a) BNS and Section Strict action is being taken against accused Shubham Jaiswal son of Bhola Prasad resident of A-9/24-J, Kayastha Tola, Prahlad Ghat, Police Station Adampur, District Varanasi and other smugglers under Section 21(C), 27-A, 29 NDPS Act.

In the same sequence, the accused Zuber Hussain Sheikh, son of Hussain Sheikh, resident of Plot No. 276 and 03, Group No. 4, Patel Nagar, Chikalthana, Police Station Chikalthana, Aurangabad District (Maharashtra) was arrested by the SIT team of Sonbhadra Police on 16.03.2026 from the police station area Liluah, Howrah City (West Bengal). Necessary legal action is being taken against the accused by bringing him to Sonbhadra on transit remand.

Accused Zuber Hussain Sheikh told during interrogation that he used to smuggle Phensadyl cough syrup from Shubham Jaiswal’s Shelly Traders, Ranchi to Bangladesh. He used to send the said intoxicating cough syrup through trucks by his drivers to Purnia in Bihar and Siliguri and Coonch Bihar border in West Bengal, from where the said trucks were taken to Bangladesh by Bengali speaking drivers. Most of the people in this smuggling gang are Bengali speaking, because the involvement of Bengali speaking people makes it easier for the gang to smuggle the intoxicating cough syrup Phensadyl to Bangladesh.

He told that the drivers working in his gang in Maranga, Waisi and Sarsi police stations of Purnia (Bihar) – Amin, Firoz, Sumer Shaikh, (resident of Aurangabad, Maharashtra), Adil (resident of Uttar Pradesh) and Wasim, have been caught along with the truck while smuggling cough syrup in Ranchi, who are currently detained in Purnia and Ranchi jails, out of which the bail of one of the accused, Sumer Shaikh, has been made by the smuggling gang.

The accused also told that the smuggling gang works in a well-planned manner, in which the drivers are instructed that in case of arrest, they will not reveal the information and exact names and addresses of other members of the gang to the police. In return, the gang ensures financial assistance to their families and legal help for bail. In this sequence, a meeting was scheduled with the gang members on 15.03.2026 at a hotel located on Kalyani Expressway near Howrah, in which an amount of about ₹ 1,00,000/- was to be received to provide financial assistance (on the occasion of Eid) to the families of the drivers caught during smuggling.

Arrested accused Zuber Hussain Shaikh, son of Hussain Shaikh, resident of Plot No. 276 and 03 Group No. 4, Patel Nagar Chikalthana Police Station Chikalthana District Aurangabad (Maharashtra), age about 42 years. Criminal history of the accused – IPC No. 1191/2025 Section 318(4), 338, 336(3), 340(2), 61(2)(a) BNS and Sections 21(C), 27-A, 29 NDPS Act Police Station Robertsganj District Sonbhadra, IPC No. 164/25 Section 8C, 21C, 25, 29 NDPS Act Police Station Maranga District Purnia Bihar, MHRD No. 240/25 Section 8C, 25(2) NDPS Act Police Station YC District Purnia Bihar, MHRD No. 133/25 Section 8C, 21C, 25, 29 NDPS Police Station Sarsi District Purnia Bihar.

In connection with the arrest of the gang handler from Howrah (West Bengal) by Sonbhadra Police after busting the cough syrup smuggling network of Shubham Jaiswal from Shelly Traders, Ranchi (Jharkhand) to Bangladesh. Byte of Superintendent of Police Sonbhadra Abhishek Verma