LUCKNOW, Dec. 13 -- The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday continued its searches for the second consecutive day at multiple locations across Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Gujarat in connection with the codeine-based multi-crore cough syrup diversion racket as investigators suspect involvement of nearly 454 additional firms and their operators in the syndicate.

According to official sources, the ongoing searches have resulted in the recovery of a substantial volume of documents and digital evidence, including details of suspicious financial transactions. The newly recovered material has revealed the possible role of several companies and individuals who were not previously identified.

The searches, which began early Friday morning,...