Varanasi: Fugitive codeine cough syrup smuggling syndicate kingpin Shubham Jaiswal’s network suffered a major blow as the possibility of his father Bhola Prasad coming out of jail ended for at least one year.Sonabhadra SP Abhishek Verma told TOI that strict action has been taken under the PIT NDPS Act against the accused involved in the illegal trafficking of codeine-based cough syrup. “Under PIT NDPS Act, such offenders can be preventively detained for up to one year to curb their involvement in illicit drug trade,” the SP said.He said, “Immediately after receiving approval of the state govt to book him under the Prevention of Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act on Thursday evening, we ensured its execution by forwarding documents to prison officials in the jail on Friday evening.”Bhola is a habitual offender involved in the illegal diversion and black-market sale of codeine-based cough syrup, the SP said. The investigation is revealing how large-scale trafficking was carried out through fake firms using fraudulent billing, operated by an organised criminal network with links beyond the country.Execution of this detention order will make Bhola stay in jail for the next year, as he will also be able to apply for bail in the cases lodged against him. This action has been taken in addition to the statutory proceedings in the cases registered against him.Shubham and Bhola, through their fake firm Shaili Traders, procured large quantities of codeine-based Phensedyl cough syrup from Abbott company and illegally diverted it to Bangladesh for drug abuse purposes, thereby earning substantial illegal financial gains. Though Shubham managed to escape the UAE before police could reach him, Bhola was arrested from Kolkata airport in Nov 2025 while making a bid to board a flight for leaving India, and since then he is lodged in Sonbhadra jail.Action to bust the syndicate involved in the multi-thousand-crore codeine scam from procurement, syphoning to smuggling started from Sonbhadra in Oct 2025. After it, major actions started against the father-son duo and other syndicate members in Varanasi and other districts across the country. Bhola and more than 30 syndicate members are now behind bars. Police are moving to forfeit properties and freeze bank accounts of Bhola and his close aides. A red corner notice has been issued against Shubham, who is hiding in Dubai. The investigation is also exposing the syndicate’s hawala network and the diversion of illegal earnings into the liquor trade.
