SHILLONG The Customs Headquarters Preventive Unit, Shillong detained one truck bearing Nagaland registration number near Thangsalai village on Shillong by pass on February 2 and recovered 29,600 bottles of Phensedyl Cough Linctus, codeine based medicinal preparation, concealed under sacks of onion.
Besides Phensedyl cough syrup, 86 bags of onion and the truck have been seized and a case registered under the provisions of NDPS Act, 1985.
The total value of seizure is Rs. 49, 92,752. The preliminary investigation suggests that the consignment of Phensedyl was loaded in Siliguri and was bound for Agartala for smuggling to Bangladesh where Phensedyl cough syrup is abused as an alternative narcotics drug.
The statement of the customs said that there is very high demand of the cough syrup in Bangladesh and, they are sold at a premium, and hence unscrupulous elements adopt innovative modus operandi to transport Phensedyl to Agartala.