Turekela: In a major crackdown, an illegal cough syrup trading gang was busted at a place near Lanta river and Lathore locality under Turekela police limits in Bolangir district. Police have arrested two persons in this connection.

One of them was identified as a youth from Malikuda village under Turekela police limits and the other as a businessman from Patnagarh in the district.

According to a source, police were tipped off that the illegal trade was going on near Lathore. Swinging into action, a team of Turekela police raided the spot leading to seizure and arrests.

Turekela police seized a huge cache of cough syrups and other sedatives, including 6,600 tablets of sedative medication and 55 vials of cough syrup, following the raid. Police have also seized a car and a motorcycle, mobile phones, and cash of Rs 2,600 from the possession of the two accused persons, Kantabanji SDPO Goura Charan Sahu said in a press conference held here.

The arrested were forwarded to a local court later in the day, the SDPO informed.