LUCKNOW, Dec. 12 -- In a crackdown on the multi-crore codeine-based cough syrup diversion racket, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted simultaneous searches at 25 locations across six cities in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and Gujarat, officials confirmed.

Officials said the coordinated action is aimed at exposing the financial and operational structure of the trafficking network.

In Lucknow, searches were carried out at five premises, including those of dismissed UP police constable and a former MP's aide Alok Pratap Singh, Jaunpur businessman Amit Singh 'Tata', and three others. Searches were also conducted at two Varanasi houses of the alleged kingpin Shubham Jaiswal, believed to be in Dubai, the residence of chartered ac...