Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh – The Varanasi police have moved to seize assets worth ₹38 crore belonging to Shubham Jaiswal, a key figure in the illegal trade of codeine-laced cough syrup, officials confirmed on Thursday. Jaiswal, who currently carries a ₹50,000 reward and is subject to a lookout notice, is at the center of a sprawling network accused of diverting highly regulated medicines to states and countries with restrictions, leading to widespread misuse.

Police Commissioner Mohit Agarwal said that the Special Investigation Team (SIT) had identified properties and assets owned by Jaiswal and his family valued at approximately ₹38 crore. “The findings were submitted to the court, which has issued a notice seeking details of these properties within a week. Should the required information not be provided, the properties will be sealed,” Agarwal added.

He explained that under Indian law, assets acquired through criminal activities can be seized during the course of investigation. The SIT is actively investigating the diversion of medicines, tracing financial transactions, and uncovering connections between accused individuals. Evidence indicates the involvement of super-stockists and cross-border trafficking to Nepal and Bangladesh.

The crackdown follows a broader state-level operation against the illegal syrup trade. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, during the state assembly session on Monday, clarified that codeine-based syrups are not manufactured in Uttar Pradesh. The state primarily hosts stockists and wholesalers, while production occurs in states such as Himachal Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh. The deaths linked to cough syrup misuse were reported from other states and were traced to products manufactured in Tamil Nadu.

Adityanath emphasized that the issue is one of illegal diversion rather than adulteration. Wholesalers from several districts, including Saharanpur, Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Lucknow, and Kanpur, are accused of diverting the syrups to prohibited markets, both domestic and international. The diversion has reportedly contributed to the misuse of these highly regulated substances.

According to the Chief Minister, the state government has so far registered 79 cases, named 225 individuals, and arrested 78 accused persons. Additionally, raids have been conducted at 134 firms implicated in the network.

The ongoing investigation by Uttar Pradesh Police has exposed a sophisticated network involved in the storage and distribution of codeine-laced cough syrups. The SIT continues to examine financial trails and operational links to dismantle the organized system. Officials noted that the seizure of Jaiswal’s assets is expected to deal a significant blow to the network’s operations and serves as a strong deterrent against future illegal diversion.

Chief Minister Adityanath reiterated the government’s commitment to strict enforcement under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, targeting individuals and entities exploiting legal loopholes to divert controlled substances. “This is part of our broader initiative to curb misuse and prevent any harm arising from the illegal distribution of these medicines,” he said.

The case has drawn national attention due to its scale and the public health implications of misused codeine-based syrups, highlighting the critical need for vigilance over regulated pharmaceuticals. Law enforcement authorities continue to coordinate across districts to ensure all accused are apprehended and assets traced, while monitoring potential cross-border movements that could feed the illicit trade.

As the investigation unfolds, the focus remains on dismantling the illegal network, recovering illicitly acquired wealth, and safeguarding public health, with the seizure of Jaiswal’s ₹38-crore assets marking a decisive step in the ongoing crackdown.