Man held with banned codeine syrup

Railway Police arrested a man and seized 50 bottles of banned Codeine Phosphate and Triprolidine Hydrochloride Syrup (Eskuf) during an anti-drug operation aboard the Dhumketu Express on Sunday.

The operation was carried out at around 11:30 pm on July 6 under the direction of Pakshi Railway District Superintendent of Police Md Mehedi Hasan and the supervision of the officer-in-charge of Rajshahi Railway Police Station.

Acting on a tip-off, a police team searched coach ‘J’ of the Rajshahi-bound train as it crossed the western outer signal of Harian Railway Station. During the search, officers recovered 50 bottles (100 ml each) of the banned syrup concealed inside a cardboard carton placed beneath seat No. 35.

The suspect, Md Jewel Hossain, 32, a resident of Mandari under Cumilla Sadar South upazila, was arrested in connection with the seizure.

Police Md Mehedi Hasan said the syrup, manufactured in India and prohibited from being imported into Bangladesh, has an estimated market value of Tk 150,000.

The seized contraband has been taken into police custody, and a case has been filed against the accused under the relevant provisions of the law.