Maharashtra: NCB arrests 5 individuals, seizes 3,195 bottles of codeine-based cough syrup

“Initially, information was received from sources that indicated the active illegal sale of CBCS bottles along with other prescription drugs in Mumbai, Thane, and adjoining areas. Consequently, an inquiry was initiated to trace the network after which Devkar, a Bhiwandi-based individual, was identified. We learnt that he was involved in procuring consignments of illegally diverted prescription drugs. He would then sell them to street-level peddlers,” said an NCB officer.

While officials were working on more leads, they came to know about Ankil, who supplied such consignments to Devkar.
NCB officials then learnt that Ankil was planning to transport a huge quantity of drugs to Devkar by road and for which Momin was hired.

Accordingly, the agency received a tip-off that Momin would cross over to Maharashtra between Monday and Tuesday, following which the vehicle was traced and identified.

“We were aware that Ankil would follow the transporter to receive the payment from Devkar,” said an official, adding that “on Tuesday, the vehicle was intercepted at Bhiwandi following which the searches were conducted that led to the seizure of 3,195 CBCS bottles from 32 cartons.”

However, while the on-field questioning was going on, Chatury identified the NCB officials and gave a tip-off to Devkar after which both Devkar and Ankil escaped.

“With the help of Thane rural police, we managed to get hold of Chatury, who told us that Devkar had hired him to keep a watch on NCB officials’ movement. Chatury then gave us information on Devkar’s whereabouts after which he was also caught,” said an officer.

Ankil was later apprehended from Palghar while trying to escape to Surat.

“Based on revelations made by Ankil, his father Jagdishchandra Bhogilal Kholwadwala, who is an associate in the illicit drug trafficking, has also been arrested,” said an officer.

The press note issued by the agency reads, “During further questioning, Ankil, the Surat based supplier disclosed that a consignment of illicitly diverted drugs was in transit from Mohali in Punjab to Surat which was also slated to be transported to Devkar and other peddlers. The mentioned consignment was identified to be containing 3,500 CBCS bottles and steps were taken to intercept the consignment.”

Ankil is an MD and has a medical facility in Surat for the procurement of such drugs from manufacturing units based in north India. Devkar, who was previously involved in street-level peddling in Mumbai and adjoining areas, later became a part of Ankil’s trafficking business.