A man has been arrested by the customs for allegedly trying to smuggle out of the country codeine-based cough syrup, officials said today.

The accused, a native of Deoband in Uttar Pradesh, was intercepted by the customs officials yesterday when he was to board to a flight to Riyadh, they said.He was carrying 120 bottles of Phensedyl cough syrup concealed inside a carton, the officials said.The cough syrup contain codeine, a narcotic substance banned under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act, they said.

Codeine is also an opiate and used in reducing pain, the officials said. The medicine containing it can be bought against a prescription.The passenger has been arrested and a case under the NDPS Act has been registered, the officials said.He was produced before a court here which has sent him to jail, they said.