Over 8,300 bottles of codeine-laced cough syrup seized in Manipur

Imphal, Oct 7 (PTI) Security forces have seized more than 8,000 bottles of codeine-laced cough syrup from a riverbank in Manipur's Imphal West district, police said on Wednesday.

Fifty-two boxes containing 8,320 bottles came following interrogation of three people apprehended on October 4 in Imphal East and Imphal West districts, they said.

Investigation revealed that Nongthombam Jamesjit, the owner of a drugs store at Naoremthong Bazar in Imphal West district, was the suspected kingpin of the network. He was arrested in Ahmedabad on Tuesday, police said.

Codeine-based formulations are regulated medicines in India and cannot be sold or distributed without a valid prescription and compliance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.

Its unauthorised possession, transportation or sale beyond the permitted framework attracts provisions of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act.