LUCKNOW, June 18 -- As many as four pharmaceutical firms in Uttar Pradesh are under investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) for allegedly diverting Tramadol, a regulated opioid painkiller, for illegal sale and abuse in Punjab. The probe follows coordinated raids across multiple states, with ED officials confirming that the firms, located in Lucknow and Muzaffarnagar, are suspected of siphoning off large consignments of the drug in connivance with agents and employees.

The ED's Jalandhar unit is spearheading the investigation, which has revealed that these companies may have been siphoning off large consignments of Tramadol, a prescription-only medication, and routing it to drug addicts with the help of agents and company employ...