LUCKNOW, Oct. 19 -- The Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) has unearthed a major illegal trade network involving codeine-based cough syrups being misused as intoxicants, officials said on Sunday. Acting on crucial leads obtained during an inspection at Eidika Life Sciences in Transport Nagar, officials traced links to Shyam Pharma in Aminabad, leading to a full-scale raid and the subsequent sealing of the establishment.

According to FSDA officials, the crackdown on the illegal sale of narcotic-containing medicines is part of an ongoing state-wide campaign. On October 12, a team of drug inspectors raided Shyam Pharma in Aminabad. The firm was found locked at the time of inspection, and despite repeated phone calls, proprietor Vish...