POLICE in Shenzhen have arrested six suspects for selling and distributing cough medication with addictive ingredients, with a total of 11,927 bottles of cough syrup confiscated.

The suspects were arrested for selling cough medicine containing the compound codeine, a potentially addictive prescription drug, officers with Shenzhen Customs said.

The gang was busted June 17, with three main suspects seized in Bao’an. A total of 11,915 bottles of cough syrup were found later in another city of Guangdong.

Investigations showed that the gang had purchased the cough syrup from Hong Kong and hired tourists to smuggle them back into Shenzhen or had the medication transported to Shenzhen by truck.

Codeine overdose can cause hallucinations and other symptoms. More and more young people have been involved in cough syrup smuggling cases in recent years. (Xinhua)