Home / Crime and Justice / Varanasi Cops Bust Multi-Crore Codeine Syrup Ring
Varanasi Cops Bust Multi-Crore Codeine Syrup Ring
4 Jul
Summary
- Ten accused booked under stringent Gangsters Act for codeine smuggling.
- Alleged gang leader Lokesh Agrawal operated under fugitive Shubham Jaiswal.
- Network busted after involvement in illegal trafficking and storage uncovered.
In a significant move against a large-scale codeine cough syrup smuggling operation, Sarnath police in Varanasi have invoked the Uttar Pradesh Gangsters and Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act against 10 already arrested individuals. Lokesh Agrawal has been identified as the alleged leader of this organized gang, which reportedly amassed substantial illegal profits through the trafficking and storage of codeine-mixed cough syrup.
The gang is understood to have operated as a component of a larger syndicate led by fugitive kingpin Shubham Jaiswal and his father, Bhola Jaiswal, who are themselves facing charges under the Gangsters Act. Police investigations revealed the group's illicit activities, leading to their arrests in 2025. Except for one member hospitalized after a stroke, all implicated individuals are currently in custody.
Investigations into the codeine racket have led to cases being filed at multiple police stations in Varanasi, following an earlier bust of the illegal trade by Sonbhadra police in October 2025. Shubham Jaiswal's father was apprehended in Kolkata in 2025, while Shubham himself is believed to be in Dubai, with extradition processes initiated.
The accused booked under the Act include Lokesh Agrawal, Vishnu Kumar Pandey, Prateek Kumar, Akash Pathak, Sureshchandra Gupta, Faizur Rahman, Satyendra Kumar Sahu, Mohammad Saif, Vinod Agrawal, and Manish Kumar Singh. The investigation in the Sarnath case has concluded with a chargesheet filed, and police are pursuing further action against the broader network.
