India, Oct. 21 -- In a major crackdown on the illegal sale of narcotics-based cough syrups, the Thane Crime Branch on Thursday seized 3,618 bottles of cough syrup containing codeine, allegedly intended for distribution among addicts in Thane and Bhiwandi and arrested one person in connection with the case. Codeine-based syrups are legally available only with a valid prescription.

According to the police, based on a tip-off, the police raided a godown in Wagle Estate on Thursday night, and recovered 3,618 bottles of the contraband worth Rs.6.31 lakh. The cough syrup contains codeine phosphate, a controlled substance under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, which is often misused for its narcotic effects.

The accus...