The Codeine-based cough syrup trafficking case is currently a major topic of discussion in Uttar Pradesh. It is becoming a major election issue amid the approaching 2027 Uttar Pradesh assembly elections. The Uttar Pradesh government is calling it a “campaign” to make the state drug-free, while the Samajwadi Party (SP) is terming it a “political vendetta.” Now, in a latest development in the case, the investigation has revealed a link of SP leaders with Shaily Traders, the firm used for large-scale smuggling of codeine-based cough syrup.
Investigators have found that the mobile number of a Samajwadi Party leader is registered with Shaily Traders, owned by prime accused Shubham Jaiswal’s father, Bhola Prasad Jaiswal. It has also come to light that the mobile number of the brother of the SP leader is registered in Shaily Traders’ drug licence and GST documents. According to reports, this number belongs to the brother of the national secretary of the SP’s Lohia Vahini. It is alleged that Milind Yadav, the brother of Lohia Vahini’s Ravi Yadav, was involved in smuggling codeine cough syrup through Shaily Traders. Milind Yadav is said to be an active worker of the Samajwadi Party.
After Alok Singh, the name of another SP office-bearer’s brother has now been linked to the case.
WHAT IS THE CASE?
Codeine, a controlled substance used for severe coughs, was being widely misused as a recreational drug and was being smuggled from Uttar Pradesh to Bihar, West Bengal, and even Bangladesh. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed by the Uttar Pradesh Government to conduct a thorough investigation and later the Enforcement Directorate also joined the investigation to probe the financial transactions and potential money laundering. Multiple cases have been registered, and raids were conducted at the premises of those close to the mastermind Shubham Jaiswal, who reportedly fled to Dubai. Investigations revealed that over 3.7 million bottles worth approximately Rs 57 crore and the total syndicate worth Rs 2,000 crore were sold through fake documents, shell companies, and forged licences. A massive illegal network dealing in codeine-based cough syrup has also been busted in several districts of Uttar Pradesh, including Varanasi, Jaunpur, and Lucknow. At least 32 people so far have been arrested so far in connection with the deadly syndicate.
THE CASE HAS BECOME TUSSLE POINT BETWEEN SP, BJP
The case is also drawing significant political statements from ruling and opposition leaders. After Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath made a statement on the case in the assembly, SP chief Akhilesh Yadav retaliated. The Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, speaking before the assembly session, alleged that the accused arrested in this case have links with the Samajwadi Party, stressing that “Every mafia in the state has been associated with the Samajwadi Party.”
Reacting to the Chief Minister’s statement, Akhilesh Yadav accused the government of targeting the opposition to hide its own failures. The SP chief alleged that the government was not taking action to protect people belonging to the Chief Minister’s caste and also questioned the impartiality of the Special Task Force.
MEDICAL SUPPLIER ROSE TO BECOME DRUG KINGPIN
This case, which is an illegal drug trade worth Rs 2,000 crore, recently unfolded, revealing how an ordinary medical supplier from Varanasi – Shubham Jaiswal, who is currently on the run, rose to become a drug kingpin in a very short period of time, extending his network all the way to Dubai. The investigation revealed that Shubham jaiawal had registered the firm ‘Shaili Traders’ in Ranchi (Jharkhand) in his father Bhola Prasad Jaiswal’s name, and while this firm dealt in medicines on papers, it was being used solely for generating fake invoices.
– Ends
With inputs from Santosh Sharma
Published By:
Nitish Singh
Published On:
Dec 19, 2025
