Manipur Police have arrested a pharmaceutical store owner suspected of being a key figure in an inter-state network allegedly involved in the illegal procurement and distribution of codeine-based cough syrup, while recovering 8,638 bottles of the drug in a series of operations.
Nongthombam Jamesjit alias Thoi, proprietor of Kangla Drugs & Surgical Pharmacy at Naoremthong Bazar in Imphal West, was arrested in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, late on October 6, police said. He was brought back to Manipur after investigators obtained four-day transit remand from the concerned court.
The investigation followed an anti-narcotics operation in Imphal East on October 4 based on intelligence inputs. A joint team comprising the Anti-Narcotics Task Force/Imphal East, M&N Sector and Range Imphal QAT of the CRPF, CDO/Imphal East Unit and Youth Against Drug and Alcohol Manipur (YADAM) conducted searches at Ningthem Pukhri Mapal and later at Singjamei Mayengbam Leikai.
Three men were arrested during the operation for allegedly possessing cough syrup containing Codeine Phosphate. They were identified as John Longjam alias Mani, 41, of Sagolband Tera Khuraijam Leirak; Longjam Wanglen, 41, of Naoremthong Khulem Leikai; and Ningthoujam Henching, 29, of Singjamei Oinam Thingel.
Police seized 318 bottles of CHOCO+ cough syrup containing 10 mg of Codeine Phosphate per bottle from the trio. A white Mahindra XUV, a blue TVS Jupiter scooter and three mobile phones were also recovered.
A case was subsequently registered at Porompat Police Station, following which investigators began tracing the suspected supply chain. Police said Jamesjit emerged as a key suspect during the probe and was later traced to Ahmedabad.
Investigators subsequently recovered a larger consignment concealed near the Oinam Thingel riverbank based on information allegedly provided by one of the three accused arrested earlier.
A joint team of police, central security forces and YADAM searched the area and found 52 boxes of CHOCO+ cough syrup. Each box contained 160 bottles, resulting in the recovery of 8,320 bottles, with each bottle containing 10 mg of Codeine Phosphate.
The riverbank recovery took the total number of bottles seized in the investigation to 8,638.
Police are now investigating the source of the pharmaceutical stock, its intended destinations and the wider network allegedly involved in its procurement and distribution. Further investigation is underway.
