LUCKNOW, Jan. 21 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED), probing a major codeine-based cough syrup trafficking racket, has uncovered the alleged involvement of two pharmaceutical companies based in Lucknow that supplied prohibited syrup worth crores of rupees, officials said.

According to ED sources, the firms acted at the behest of the trafficking syndicate and maintained close links with key accused, including dismissed constable Alok Pratap Singh and his associate Amit Singh alias Tata. Investigators found that the operators of the two companies were in direct contact with the accused and allegedly paid commissions to gang members to facilitate illegal supplies.

Officials said large consignments of codeine-laced cough syrup were dispatc...