As peddlers disappear underground, users turn to cough syrup

ANC officers with an accused illegally dealing in cough syrups

With a citywide crackdown by anti-drug authorities sending peddlers underground, those dependent on narcotic substances have switched to cough syrups.

Last year, the Anti-Narcotics Cell of Mumbai police had seized 5,191 bottles of cough syrup. So far this year, the ANC's Ghatkopar and Azad Maidan teams have confiscated 7,865 bottles of the medication worth about Rs 28 lakh.

ANC officers said drug dealers do not get cough syrup without a doctor's prescription. The anti-drug force has learnt that smugglers are ordering stocks from other states and selling a bottle of cough syrup of about Rs 100 for Rs 250.

Over the past few months, ANC and the Narcotics Control Bureau have gone on an overdrive with raids and arrests of people linked to the drug business. This has disrupted the supply to end users. An officer said many cough syrups carry a compound called codeine phosphate that can cause intoxication for 5-7 hours if consumed in large quantities.

On January 2, ANC-Ghatkopar seized cough syrups worth R24.92 lakh from Grant Road and Pydhonie and arrested one Asif Lakdiya, alias Asif Takla, 45. The next day, their colleagues from Azad Maidan police took Sajid Sheikh, 23, into custody from Ghatkopar and seized codeine phosphate-based cough syrup bottles worth Rs 2.6 lakh.

The switch by drug users is equally harmful, said officers. "Excessive intake of cough syrups with codeine phosphate affects the brain and raises blood pressure. It triggers excessive sleep, loss of appetite, and may make a person aggressive. This syrup is widely used in the city and suburbs, especially in the slums of Shivajinagar, Goli and Mankhurd," said an ANC officer.

DCP of the cell Datta Nalawade told mid-day, "We are taking action against drug smugglers. Action will also be taken against those who use cough syrup for intoxication."

28 lakh
Value of cough syrup stash seized this month