LUCKNOW, Oct. 12 -- A key supplier of illegal and highly addictive codeine syrup has been apprehended following a coordinated raid by the narcotics department and the Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) in Lucknow, authorities said on Saturday. The accused, identified as Deepak Malwani, was arrested from his residence in Sneh Nagar, VIP Road, Alambagh. Four cartons of codeine syrup, along with a large quantity of restricted allopathic medicines and multivitamins, were seized, officials said, adding the accused had been booked under the NDPS Act, and further raids on linked shops and suppliers were underway. Officials said that the operation followed a tip-off regarding Malwani's illegal activities. Investigations revealed that he was running a city-wide supply network, using his brother Mandeep Malwani's medical shop in Aminabad as a distribution point. Medicines from this shop were reportedly supplied to small vendors and street sellers, some of which were being allegedly misused for recreational purposes. Deepak allegedly exploited the growing demand for codeine syrup among youth, purchasing the drugs at low rates and selling them at higher prices for profit. Preliminary inquiries also indicate his involvement with wholesale medical suppliers, who reportedly manipulated bills to supply the syrup illegally, officials said....