UP Police Seizes Rs 28.5 Crore Assets in Cough Syrup Smuggling Case
UP Police attaches assets worth Rs 28.5 crore of cough syrup smuggling kingpin Bhola Prasad.
Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday attached assets worth approximately Rs 28.5 crore belonging to Bhola Prasad, the main accused in a large-scale codeine-based cough syrup smuggling case, following court orders. The seizure, executed at three locations in Varanasi, includes bank deposits, luxury vehicles, and residential properties.
The accused, currently lodged in Sonbhadra district jail, had been operating an organized syndicate involved in the illegal trade of cough syrup containing codeine. A special investigation team (SIT) probe revealed that Prasad amassed substantial wealth through the illicit business, prompting authorities to seek court-ordered attachment under Section 107 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Police officials confirmed that the attached assets include two fixed deposit receipts totaling over Rs 1.13 crore, two bank accounts with a combined balance of Rs 6.89 lakh, a Mercedes-Benz car valued at Rs 1.22 crore, and multiple residential properties in Varanasi, including a house bought for Rs 23 crore in July 2025 in his wife’s name.
Also Read: Yogi Adityanath Directs UP Police to Embrace PM Modi’s Smart Policing Vision
Prasad was earlier apprehended at Dum Dum Airport in Kolkata with assistance from local police while attempting to flee abroad. The attachment proceedings were carried out under the supervision of Sonbhadra City Circle Officer Randhir Kumar Mishra and the Varanasi district magistrate, with active coordination from the sub-divisional magistrate of Pindra.
Authorities warned that strict action will continue against those involved in the illegal cough syrup trade. The Uttar Pradesh police are investigating a wider network of illegal codeine-based syrup trafficking, suspected to involve hundreds of crores and extending beyond state borders.
The police have urged the public and businesses to cooperate in curbing the illicit trade, emphasizing that such syndicates not only violate the law but also pose serious public health risks due to unregulated distribution of controlled substances.
Also Read: French Navy Seizes Russian Shadow Fleet Tanker in Mediterranean Operation
