Drug trafficker wanted over seizure of 15,000 bottles of cough syrup arrested

NCB Kolkata arrests drug trafficker with 14,998 bottles of Phensedyl; significant blow to drug trafficking organization.

The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) in Kolkata has arrested a drug trafficker in connection with the seizure of 14,998 bottles ofCodeine Based Cough Syrups (CBCS - brand name Phensedyl) on November 13.

NCB officials on Saturday said, “In one of the most challenging anti-drug operations regarding interception of illicit trafficking of CBCS destined to Bangladesh, NCB Kolkata has, on 13.11. 2024, arrested an international drug trafficker namely Gautam Mondal from Kolkata.”

The man is a “habitual offender” with three cases of smuggling gold worth crores registered by Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) and three cases registered under Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act by a West Bengal special task force (STF).

According to the NCB officials the CBCS bottles that were seized were sourced from Uttar Pradesh and illegally diverted from a legal channel. “Gautam Mondal is a hard core NDPS offender whose modus operandi is to work in several layers. He has trained several of his henchmen to work in pairs for a particular set of duty. He keeps changing them from time to time to avoid detection by law enforcement agencies,” the officials said.

Mr. Mondal’s arrest was a “significant blow to the functioning of his drug trafficking organisation”, the officials said. They are working to identify his aides and arrest them. The DRI Kolkata and the West Bengal STF will conduct a joint interrogation to bust the crime syndicate.