Banned tobacco products worth Rs 17.82 lakh seized in Thane

Thane, Feb 8 (PTI) Police have seized gutka and other tobacco products worth Rs 17.82 lakh from a godown complex in Maharashtra’s Thane district, an official said on Wednesday.

The Food and Drug Administration officials conducted a raid on Tuesday and found the stock of banned items stored in two tempos at the godown complex located at Purna village in Bhiwandi town, police spokesperson Maloji Shinde said.
Three other tempos which had Karnataka registration number were also seized, he said.

The police have registered offences against 11 people, including drivers and the owner of the two tempos as well as supplier of the banned products, under relevant provisions, he said.

No arrest has been made so far in this connection, he added.

The sale and consumption of gutka, scented and flavoured tobacco has been banned in Maharashtra since 2012.

In 2018, the state government made sale of gutka a non-bailable offence and enhanced the punishment for it from six months to three years.