HYDERABAD, APRIL 22, 2025: In a special joint operation conducted on, the Prohibition and Excise Department, in coordination with, the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, successfully busted an illegal network involved in the diversion and sale of Codeine-based cough syrups for abuse in Hyderabad on Monday.
The operation began with the Prohibition and Excise Enforcement, Ranga Reddy, detecting a case involving illegal possession of dry ganja weighing (1.050) kg from two individuals, namely Vaibhav Kulakarni and Manupati Bhanu Prakash, at Ramanthapur. During the interrogation, the accused revealed information pertaining to the sale of Codeine Phosphate Syrup by a woman in the Lalapet area of Secunderabad.
Acting on this intelligence, a route watch was conducted near Moulali Bridge, where the officers intercepted a woman carrying (13) bottles of Codeine phosphate syrup on a two-wheeler, intended for delivery to an unknown person. The woman, identified as Nalla Rajini, failed to produce a valid drug licence or medical prescription for the possession of the said quantity. Upon questioning, she confessed to procuring the drug from Generic World Medical Shop, located at Vidyanagar Hyderabad.
Drugs Control Administration Officers along with Prohibition and Excise Officers conducted a decoy operation at the said pharmacy. During this operation, the vendor sold (03) bottles of Codeine syrup without issuing a bill or obtaining a valid prescription. Drugs Control Administration officers, inspected Generic World Medical Shop, Vidyanagar and found (80) bottles of Codeine phosphate syrup in stock.
The inspection revealed grave irregularities including: Sale of Codeine-based Cough Syrups without prescription of a Registered Medical Practitioner. Failure to maintain sales records as mandated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act and Rules.
Further investigation revealed that the syrups had been procured from Himalaya Pharma, located at Ghori Nagar Colony, Old Bowenpally, Balanagar Mandal, Medchal-Malkajgiri District, which is operated by a relative of the licensee of Generic World Medical Shop.
The Drugs Control Administration team, along with the Prohibition and Excise Enforcement team, raided Himalaya Pharma, Old Bowenpally and recovered documents confirming the sale of the said syrups to Generic World Medical Shop. Irregularities were also found in the operation of Himalaya Pharma, including the sale of Codeine-based cough syrups without prescription and failure to maintain proper sales records regarding 80 bottles of Codeine Cough Syrups.
Accordingly, the following persons have been apprehended in connection with the case:
- A1: Nalla Rajini – Woman found in illegal possession of Codeine phosphate syrup.
- A2: Anmol Kumar Singhal – Licensee of Generic World Medical Shop, Vidyanagar.
- A3: Dinesh Kumar Goyal – Licensee of Himalaya Pharma, Ghori Nagar, Old Bowenpally.
In light of the serious violations observed, the Drugs Licences of medical shops Generic World, Vidyanagar and Himalaya Pharma, Old Bowenpally have been cancelled by the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana, in accordance with the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.
Case has been registered with COR No. 32/2025 under Section 8(c) r/w Section 20(b) of the NDPS Act at Malakjgiri Prohibition & Excise Station against the accused. J. Jeevan Kiran, Assistant Excise Superintendent, Prohibition & Excise Enforcement, Ranga Reddy, Bala Raju, Prohibition & Excise Inspector, Enforcement, Ranga Reddy, Ravi Challa, Prohibition & Excise Sub-Inspector, Enforcement, Ranga Reddy of Prohibition and Excise department and from Drugs Control Administration: D. Saritha, Assistant Director, Secunderabad, . Prabhakar, Assistant Director, Quthbullapur, B. Govind Singh, Drugs Inspector, Secunderabad , P. Renuka, Drugs Inspector, Musheerabad, E. Thirupathi, Drugs Inspector, Quthbullapur, E. Naresh Reddy, Drugs Inspector, Balanagar, I. Srikanth, Drugs Inspector, Gajularamaram
DCA Director General VB Kamalasan Reddy said the public may report any suspected manufacturing activity related to drugs, including narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances, in residential, commercial, or industrial areas, as well as any other complaints regarding illegal activities concerning medicines, through the Drugs Control Administration, Telangana Toll-Free Number 1800-599-6969, which is operational from 10:30 am to 5:00 pm on all working days.
