JAMMU: In the wake of upcoming Legislative Assembly elections, Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has geared up its preparation to tackle the drug menace and its possible misuse in the election scenario. Being the national nodal agency for drug law enforcement, it has committed itself to stop the supply of drugs in the region.
Keeping on its commitment, in a follow up action in its case Crime no. 02/24, on 22.08.2024, NCB Jammu Zonal Unit arrested Neeraj Bhatia, one of the owners of a Codeine Syrup Manufacturing firm Vidit Healthcare, Sirmour, HP.
With this, the agency has busted a notorious Inter-State Codeine based Syrup diversion racket operating in Delhi, H.P and J&K since last six to seven years.Till now 7 persons have been arrested in this case and around 34 Kg. of Codeine based Syrup has been seized.
ViditHealthcare was supplying Codeine based Syrup to shell companies, without proper document verification and their presence on ground and violating provisions of NDPS Act. Owner of these shell companies were having previous questionable and dubious history. Despite this knowledge, Neeraj Bhatia, owner of Vidit Healthcare was in collusion & conducting regular transactions of Codeine based Syrup with these shell companies since 7 years.
During investigation, it was found that since January 2024, Vidit Healthcare had supplied 3 lakh COCREX Codeine based syrup to a shell firm under investigation and before that also on an average he used to supply 3 lakh bottles quarterly i.e. 12 lakh bottles annually to previous shell firms.
The agency during financial investigationhas freezed variousmovable and immovable illegally acquired properties of accused amounting to 3.65 Crores. Further investigation is on.
