India Pharma Outlook | Monday, 04 August 2025
The Special Task Force (STF) of the Crime Branch in Odisha, working in tandem with the Drugs Control Department, has successfully intercepted a large shipment of Wincerex cough syrup, which is based on codeine phosphate, from courier hubs in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar as part of a major crackdown on illegal pharmaceutical drug trafficking.
The confiscated contraband has an estimated market value of more than Rs. 52 lakhs. A total of 26,658 bottles (100 ml each) of Wincerex cough syrups were recovered as a result of the coordinated raids that were carried out at Trackon Couriers Pvt. Ltd. in Cuttack on July 31, 2025, and at Trackon Couriers in Bhubaneswar in the early hours of August 1, 2025. 13,158 bottles from the Cuttack branch and 13,500 bottles from the Bhubaneswar branch were confiscated out of this total.
A committed team led the operation, including Dharmadev Puhan, assistant drugs controller at Cuttack Circle-I, Chandan Kumar Giri, drugs inspector (Enforcement) at the directorate of drugs controller, Jitu Beshra, inspector, STF, and investigating officer, and Pradeep Kumar Rout, deputy superintendent of police, STF. Strict respect to legal processes was ensured by the careful execution of the full seizure in front of two impartial government witnesses and an executive magistrate.
Also Read: Cadila Pharma Launches Bilacad Dex Syrup for Allergy Relief
Ansuman Abhijit Sahoo, popularly known as Raja, a resident of Bharatpur in Bhubaneswar, was also arrested as a result of the bust after he was caught red-handed trying to accept the illicit shipment. According to investigations, these narcotics were being sold illegally and are suspected of being abused by young people and other vulnerable groups in society.
