Police in Sonepur district seized a massive quantity of cough syrup during a raid near Duradura under Subalaya police limits.
Acting on a tip-off about illegal drug trafficking, officers intercepted vehicles suspected of transporting contraband.
During the operation, a luxury Mahindra XUV700 approaching from Redhakhol sped away after spotting the police. The driver abandoned the vehicle and fled the scene. Upon inspection, officers discovered 13 cartons containing around 2,000 bottles of cough syrup worth over Rs 10 lakh.
Two men escorting the vehicle were detained for questioning. Police also seized another car linked to the operation. Officials confirmed that the raid followed intelligence reports about the large-scale smuggling of cough syrup in the region.
District police have launched a manhunt to trace the absconding driver and identify the network behind the illegal trade. Authorities believe the seized consignment was part of a wider distribution racket operating across western Odisha.
