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A quiet Lucknow lane turned into the centre of a major STF breakthrough as an absconding accused in a Rs 20-lakh cough syrup racket was finally pinned down. His confession has opened doors to a deeper, darker network few knew existed.
STF nabs absconding accused in multi-state Phensedyl trafficking case
Lucknow: The Uttar Pradesh Special Task Force (STF) on Monday achieved a major breakthrough in its sustained campaign against the illegal procurement and trafficking of Phensedyl cough syrup, codeine-based intoxicant syrups and other prohibited medicines.
The agency arrested one absconding accused from Lucknow, who had been evading law enforcement for several weeks despite multiple raids conducted across several states.
The arrested accused has been identified as Alok Pratap Singh, son of Veerendra Pratap Singh, a resident of Ashok Nagar, Aishbagh, Lucknow.
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According to official inputs, the STF team apprehended the accused near the north gate of Polytechnic College, Gomti Nagar, Lucknow, at approximately 10:45 AM on 2 December 2025. The arrest follows extensive surveillance and coordinated inter-state efforts, as the illegal network had links spreading beyond Uttar Pradesh to states such as Uttarakhand, Bihar, Jharkhand, West Bengal, and Chhattisgarh.
The state government had earlier constituted a joint inquiry committee comprising officials from the Excise Department and the Food Safety & Drug Administration Department through an order dated 12 February 2024. This followed intelligence that huge quantities of Phensedyl had been illegally stocked and stored in the inventory of Medicine Store Godown, E-Road, Lucknow, leading to registration of FIR No. 182/2024 under IPC sections 420, 467, 468, 471, 34 and 120B at Police Station Sushant Golf City.
During the inquiry, names of several individuals involved in illegal procurement and distribution of intoxicant cough syrups surfaced. Multiple arrests were made, including Fohisar Yadav, Vishwajeet Singh, and Vikas Kumar, all linked to various supply chains.
Interrogation of previously arrested accused revealed that the present detainee, Alok Pratap Singh, played a key role in providing logistical and financial support for the illegal trade.
A detailed confession by co-accused indicated that he sourced and supplied Phensedyl and codeine-based syrups through a web of fabricated companies, forged invoices and fake medical documentation. The illicit stock was smuggled across state borders for high profits due to increasing market demand in several eastern states.
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One accused, Fodhal Singh, disclosed that huge consignments were transported under the guise of legitimate medicine distribution, with profits running into several lakhs. Multiple shell firms were created to legitimise transactions and evade police scrutiny.
STF officials confirmed that fresh legal proceedings will now be initiated in continuation of existing FIRs. Preliminary investigation also shows Alok Pratap Singh had a prior criminal record under FIR No. 177/2006 at Police Station Aashiyana.
Authorities have stated that further interrogation will uncover remaining members of the syndicate, and more arrests are expected soon.
