Sambalpur: Police busted a cough-syrup smuggling racket in Odisha’s Sambalpur with the seizure of 2400 bottles and arrest of four persons on Wednesday.
The accused have been identified as Manoj Kumar of Ladukhai area of Sambalpur, and Jitu Sahu (both buyers) and driver and helper of a vehicle which was used in transporting the bottles.
According to police, the vehicle carrying cough syrup bottles was first spotted at Padiabahal during patrolling. After a brief chase the four were apprehended near a petrol pump while unloading and re-packaging the cough syrup bottles, the police said.
“We have seized 2400 cough syrup bottles packed in 20 cartons estimated at Rs 7 lakh, a truck and a bike and five mobile phones from the possession of the accused,” a senior police official said.
Manoj is reportedly mastermind of the racket which operated between Kolkata and Sambalpur, the police said and added that further investigation is on.